/ 

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JOURNAL, 



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OP - ^ ^ 



■■■BP W " Wl -I** 



^1 (/ 

A YOUNG MAN OF MASSACHUSETTB^ 

LATE 

A SURGEON ON BOARD AN AMERICAN PRIVATEER, 

WHO WAS CAPTURED AT SEA BT THE BRITISH, IIT MAY, EIGHTEEN Ht7>'Dn£a 
AND THIRTEEN, AND WAS CONFINED FIRST, 

AT MELVILLE ISLAND, HALIFAX, THEX AT CHATHAM, 

IN ENGLAND, 

AND LAST, AT DARTMOOR PRISON. 

INTERSPERSED WITH 

OBSERVATIONS, ANECDOTES AND REMARKS, 

TENDING TO 

ILLUSTRATE THE MORAL AND POLlTirAL CHARACTERS 

OF THREE NATIONS. 

TO WHICH IS ADDED, 

A CORRECT ENGRA\TNG OF DARTiMOOR PRISON 

BEPHESENTING THE MASSACRE OF AMERICAN PRISONERS, 

WRITTEN BY HIMSELF. 



'♦Nothing extenuate, or set down aught in malice." 

• - SHAKESPEARE. 



BOSTON : 
PRINTED BY ROWE AND HOOPER, 



1816, 



J 



District of Massachusetts, to wit : 

District Chrk's Ojic(, 
BE it remembered, that on the sixth day of March, A F. 

(L. S.) 1816, and in the fortieth year of the Independence of the Uni- 
ted States of America, Rowe & Hooper, of the said District, 
have deposited in this Office, the title of a Book, the Right whereof they 
claim as Proprietors, in the words following, to wit ; 

*• A Journal of a Young Man of Massachusetts, late a Surgeon on board 
an American Privateer, who was captured at Sea by the British, in May, 
eighteen hundred and thirteen, and was confined first, at Melville Island^ 
Halifax, then at Chatham, in England, and last at Dartmoor Prison. In- 
terspersed with Observations, Anecdotes and Remarks, tendmg to illus- 
trate the moral »nd political characters of three nations. To which is 
added, acorrect Engrav^ing of Dartmoor Prison, representing the Massa- 
cre of American prisoners. Written by himself.^ "Nothing extenuate, 
or set down aught in malice." Shakespeare. 

In conformity to the Act of the Congress of the United States, entitled, 
"An Act for the encouragement of learning, by securing the copies o£ 
Maps, Charts and Books, to the Authors.and Proprietors of such Copies, 
/luring the Times therein mentioned;" and also to an Act entitled, " An 
Act supplementary to an Act, entitled an Act for the encouragement of 
learning, by securing the copies of Maps, Charts and Books, to the authors 
?nd proprietors of such copies during the times therein mentioned ; and 
extending the benefits thereof to the arts of designing, engraving and 
etching historicaij and Other prints." cu/vTxr 

Qhrk of the District of MassachuHttSi, 



»1 



•) 



'oir 



■^. TO THE 

■I COMMOM SEH'SK 

4 



AND 



HUMANE FEELINGS 



OF THE PEOPLE OF AMERICA, 



THIS JOURNAL IS INSCRIBED, 



SY 



A LATE PRISONER OF WAR WITH THE BRITISH, 



Massachusetts, County of 
Hampshire, 1815, 



JOURNAL. 



In December, 1&12, I foiind a schooner fittiug out of 
Salem, as a privateer. She had only four carriagje guns 
and ninety men. By the fifth of January, 1813, she was 
ready to sail, and only wanted some young man to go as 
assistant surgeon of her. The oiBer was made to me, 
'vhen without much reflectiou, or consultation of friends, 
I stepped on hoard her in that capacity, with no other 
ideas than that of a pleasant cruise, and making a for- 
tune. With this in view we steered for the coast of Bra- 
zils, which we reached about the first of February. 

Our first land-fall was not the most judicious, for we 
made the coast in the night, and in the morning found 
•urselves surrounded with breakers. Fortunately for us, 
a Portuguese schooner was outside of us, and we hoisted 
out our boat, and went on board her; and receiv4?d from 
her commander and officers directions for clearing our- 
selves from these dangerous breakers. We were then 
about 60 miles below Cape St. Roque. The captain of 
the Portuguese vessel kindly informed us where to get 
Water, in a bay then before us. We had English colours 
flying, and all this time passed for a British vessel. 

In a few hours we cast anchor in the bay, when our 
Captain went on shore ; and when he had discovered the 
watering place, he returned on board, and sent his wa- 
ter casks to be filled ; but tlie inhabitants collected around 
our mei>, and shewed, by their gestures and grimaces, a 
disposition to drive us away. It is probable that they only 
wanted to make us pay for the water; for it is the way 
of all the inhabitants of the sea shores every where, to 
profit by the distresses of those who are cast upon them. 
But pretending not to understand them, we got what water 
was necessary. 

I he next day a Portuguese ship of war came into the 
hay, on which we thought it prudent to haul off, as we 
thought it not so easy to impose on a public ship as a. 

1 



JOt'KNAL. 



private one, m lih our English colours and uniform. Jn 
beating up to Pernambueo \ve spoke with vessels every 
day? but thev were all Portuguese. When near to 8t. Sal- 
vadore, we were in great danger of capture by a British 
frigate, whom we mistook for a large merchantman, until 
she came within half musket shot of us, but, luckily for 
lis, it died away calm, when we out with our oars, Aviiich 
.seamen call sweeps, and in spite of their round and grape 
shot we got clear of her w ithout any serious injury. 

We would remark here, that sailors have a dialect of 
iheir own, and a phraseology by the;aselves. Instead of 
right side, and left side, they say starboard, and larboard. 
To tie a rope fast, is to belay it. To lower down a sail, 
or to pull down a colour, is to dowse it, and so of many 
otber things. These peculiar phrazes have been adoj)ted 
from the Dutch, and from the Danes, nations from \>hom 
the English learnt navigation. We may occasionally use 
some of these terms, when it cannot \\ell be avoided. 

Our Captain was not an American, neither was he an 
Englishman. He was a little bit of a man, of a swarthy 
complexion, and did not weigh perhaps more than an bun- 
dred pounds by the scale. ^During the firing our little 
man stood upon the taflYail, swung his sword, d — d the 
English and praised his own men. He had been long 
enough in the United States to acquire property and infor- 
mation, and credit enough to command a schooner of four 
guns and ninety men. The crew considered him a brave 
man and a good sailor, but not over generous in his dis- 
position. NVhether the following is a proof of it, I can- 
not determine. 

He allowed the crew but one gill of New England rum 
per day, which they thought an under dose for a Yankee. 
They contended for more, but he refused it. They expos- 
tulated, and he remained obstinate; ^vhen at length, t!iey, 
one and all, declared th»t fliey would not touch a rope 
unless he agreed to double the allowance, to half a pnit. 
The Captain was a very abstemious man himself, and 
being very small in person, he did not consider that a man 
four'times as big required twice as much rum to keep his 
sluggish frame in the same degree of good spirits. He 
held out against his frew for two days, dq> ing which time 
they never one of them so much as lifted a spun yarn. The 
weather was, be sure, very mild and plefisant. 1 eonfess. 



JOURNAL. 7 

however, thai I was very uneasy, under (lie idea that we 
miiij'lit all perish i'rom the obstinacy of ihe crew, on one 
side, Aud the firmness of t!ie little man on the other. Our 
Capt^iin found that his t^overnment was deniocratical ; 
and perceivin;^ that the weather was about to change, he 
conceded to the larj^e and fearful majority, and iVew Eng- 
land spirit carried the day against a temperate p]iiropoaii 
commander. 

This haliit of rum drinking makes a striking ditference 
between tlie militarv of ancient and modern davs. If a 
Roman soldier or a Carthagenian sailor, had his cloathing, 
his meat, and his bread, and his vinegar, he was content- 
ed, and rarely was arailty of niutinv. I5nt the modem 
soldier and sailor must, in addition to these, have his rum, 
or brandy, and his tobacco ; and deprive. him of these two 
articles, which arc neither food, nor clothing, ami he in- 
fallibly mutinies ; that i», he runs the risk of the severest 
punishment, even that of death, rather than renounce 
them. I have observed amono: sailors, that they l)ear the 
dej)rivation of rum with more patience than tl'.e depriva- 
tioj! of tobacco. On granting the crew half a pint of rum 
a day, they gave three cheers, and went to work with ti;c 
greatest cheerfulness and alacrity. 

Th« next day we descried three sail steering for St, 
Salvadore. We gave chacc to them, but when we came 
within gun shot of the stern most, slie tired her stern 
chacers at us. We brought our four guns on one side to 
attack, or to defend ourselves, as we should liud ourselves 
eircuRistanced ; but night coming en, \^e saw no more of 
(hem. 

Our water growing short, we determined to gain oflr 
former watering place ; but not being alile to reach it easi- 
ly, we anchored otf a little settlement. 20 miles distant 
from the place where we watered bel'ore. Here our cap- 
tain put on a British uniform,"* and waited on the com- 
mandant of the place, who, although he treated him with 
j)oliteness, gave evident suspicions that he Mas not an 
English otftcer. To prevent the awkward consequences 
of a detection, our captain promised to send oft' a barrel 
of hams, and a keg of butter. Under the expectation of 
the fulfilment of (his rather rash promise, our crafty com, - 
mander returned to his vessel, and left the place very earlj 
r/ext morning. 



$J JOURNAL. 

It was now the middle of March, and we had taken 
nothing, neither had we fired our cannon excepting at a 
miserable sort of a half boat and half raft, called a Cata- 
maran, made of five light logs, with a triangular j^ail. 
From the men on this miserable vessel we got information 
of a good watering place, where we soon anchored. The 
T^ommandant of this little settlement was of the colour of our 
North American Indians, and so were his family, but the 
rest were nearly as black as negroes. He lived in a house 
covered and worked in with long grass ; he offered us 
snuff out of a box tipped with silver, but every thing else 
looked very rude and simple. While we were getting our 
water, the females hovered round us. They had long 
black and shining hair, and wore a long while cotton 
garment, like a shirt or shift. They seemed to admire 
dur complexions. One of these women, more forward 
than the rest, opened the bosom of one of our fairest 
young men, to see if his body was as white as his face. 
She appeared to be highly amused with the discovery, and 
called her companions to come and view the phenomenon. 
He shewed a similar curiosity as it concerned her, biit she 
shrunk from it with the apparent delicacy of polished 
life, before se many men. 

Just as we were about embarking, the commandant told 
our captain that he had just received a message from the 
commandant of Gomora, to seize him and all his crew and 
s>end them to Pernambuco, but that he should not obey him. 
We now set sail for the United States, and had net been at 
sea long before we were chased by a frigate, but out sail- 
ed her. 

On the 20th of Mav we made Gav Head, tvhich is the 
shining remains of an extinguished Volcano, on the west 
end of Martha's Vineyard. The next morning we discov- 
ered a ship and a brig standing for us. We tacked and 
stood for the ship until we found that she was a man of 
war, and then we wore round for the brig, she being near- 
est of our own size. W^e now, for the first time, hoisted 
American colours, when the brig gave us a broadside : 
and kept up a constant fire upon us, but we soon left her 
by our superior sailing and management. The frigate, 
for such she proved to be, was not so easily got rid of. 
She was to the windward of us when we first saw her. 
She came within gun sh«t about noon. She firing her 



JOURNAL. 9 

Ijow-chacers and we oiir stern-chacers. At lensjtli slie 
came almost within musket shot of us, wlieti slie fired re- 
peated broadsides iulo our little schooner, so as to cut 
away almost all our rii^^inj^, when our brave litlle captain 
"Went down below, after telling the men to fi-^ht it out ; 
hut they prudently struck their colours. A boat soon 
came on board of us with a Lieutenant and twelve ma- 
rines, swearing most bravely at the d — d Yankees. But 
as our men had, according to custom, when a vessel sur- 
renders, seized whatever casks of liquor they could come 
at, soon filled out a few horns of gin, and passed it round 
among the marines, which inspired them with goful na- 
ture, and for a moment, they seemed '* all hale fellows 
well met." The boarding oiliccr did not appear to bo so 
intent in sccuriug the vessel, as in searching everv hole 
and corner for small articles to pocket. We were soon 
ordered on board of his Britannie Aiajesty's ship the Tene- 
dos^ Capt. Parker. 

I liad always entertained a respeclable opinion of tlie 
British, especially of tlieir national marine. I had read 
British history, and listened to liiitish songs, and had 
lieard from my childhood of the superior bravery and gen- 
erosity of the British sailor, and had entertained a real 
respect for iheir character; and being of a family denom- 
inated federalists, 1 may be said to have entered fhu fri- 
gate Tenedos, Capt. Parker, with feelings And expecta- 
tions very difterent from what 1 should have felt, had we 
l)een at war with the French, and had it been a frigate of 
that nation tliat had captureil us. The Frencli are a peo- 
j)le marked by nature as well as by customs and hiibits, a 
dilFerent nation from us. Their language is diiferent ; 
their religion is ditierent, and so are their manners. All 
these things have conspired in making a wall of senara- 
tion between us and tltat lively peuj)Ie. But it is not so 
with the Fhiglish. Our language, religion, custoujs. ha- 
bits, manners, institutions; and above all, hood's nave 
nnifcil to make us feel as if wc uere but ehiMren of the 
same great fiuni!\, only divided by the Atianlie oecicU. 
All tijese things have a natural and hab;tnal lendeM"y to 
linite us, and nothing but the unfeeling and contempt sjous 
treatment of us by the British military gener illy. •u.i\<\ 
have separated us. With all tlscse feenngs and purtiJ ^ 
tics about me, I went from oar schooner over the si;!- 

1* 



10 JOURNAL. 

the British friajats with different fceiina;? from what I 
should, had I been gbino;' on board an enemies ship of the 
FreHch, Spanish, or Portuguese nation. But what was 
my change of feelings, on being driven wiili the rest all 
up in a corner like hogs, and then marched about the 
deck, for the strutting captain of the frigate to view and 
review us like cattle iu a market before the drover or 
hutcher. 

When our !)iiggage was brouglit on hoard, the master of 
arms took every portable article from us, not leaving us a 
jack knife, penknife or razor. We Americans uever 
conduct se towards British prisoners. We always respect 
the private articles of the officer and sailor. 

On the same day we were put on board tbe brig Curlew, 
Lt. Head, a polite and humane gentleman, and much be- 
Joved by his own crew, lie is, I am informed, son of an 
English Baronet. He is a plain, honest maH, with easy, 
elegant manners, and very unlike the s])uttering com- 
mander of the Tenedos, a man who allowed us to be strip- 
ped of all our little pocket articles. We weie kept very 
close while on board the Curlew, because her crew was 
very weak, j)rincipally decrepid old men and boys, but 
then we were kindly spoken to, and respectfully and hu- 
manely treated by Lieut. Head, and his worthy surgeon. 
We can discover real gentlemen at sea, as well as on 
shore. 

We were landed in Halifax, the principal British 
port of North America, and the capital of Nova Scolia, on 
the 29th cf May, 1813. We were soon surrounded by 
soldiers, and being joined by a number of our countrymen, 
recently captured, we were attempted to be marshalled and 
paraded in military order, so as to make as grand a show 
as possible, as we marched through the streets to prison. 
The first thing they did was to make us stand in platoons, 
and then the commanding officer stationed a soldier on the 
flanks of each platoon to keep us regular, and to march 
and wheel according to rule. The word was then given 
to march, when we all ran up together just as we were 
when the strutting Capt. Parker reviewed us on the deck 
of the Tenedos. "We were then commanded to halt. As 
we have no such word of command on board of an Ameri- 
can privateer, some crowded on, while a few stopped. 
The yonng officer tried agaio; and made us stand all in a 



JOURNAL. 11 

raw. Some of the crew toid their comrades that when tli* 
captain suiij; out '• /za//,*' he meant •' avast,** and that tlieu 
tliey should all stop. When we were ail lu order again, 
the scarlet-'joaied >ounj5 gentleman, with a golden swash 
on his lel't -hoiilder, gave a second time the word of com- 
mand — '• //larc/i" — when we got into the like contusion, 
again, when he cried out m a swearing passion, •»/ia/f"— . 
on whicli some stopp.'d short, and some Wiilked on, wlieu 
the whole squad liurst out a laugiiiug. I know not what 
would liave heen the consequence of liis jKission had not a 
navy ollicer standing Uy observed to him, ihat thev were 
not soldiers l)ul sailors, who kaew nothing about mililary 
luarcliing, or mililary wor<Js of command, when ihcNoun*^ 
man told us to march on in uiir owji way ; iiix)!) which 
our sailors stuck iheir lists in their pockets, and scrabbled 
and reeled on as sailors always do ; I'or a sador does not 
know how to walk like a landsman. Uii which account 1 
have been informed, since my return from captivitv, tiiat 
all our seamen, that were sent frtjin Boston to Sa'ckelt** 
harbour, on Lake Ontario, were transported in coaches 
with four horses, chartered for the express purpose; and 
tiiat it was common, for many weeks together, to see a 
dozen oftlie laiire stage coaches, setting out from lioston 
in a morning, full of sailors going up to the lakes, to rnaa 
the lleets of Commodores l*erry, Chauncey and M'lJo- 
iiougli. The foruier of these commanders told the writer, 
that he never allowed a sailor destined for his squadron 
to walk a single day. These merry fellows used to ride 
through the country with their colours and streamers ami 
rwusie, and heaving the lead amidst the acclamations of 
the country people. While these things were thus con- 
ducted in \ew England, the people of Old England were 
simple enough to believe that the war with England was 
unpopular. Tiiey judged cf us by wiir party newspapers. 
The soldiers marched us about two miles, whei» we 
came to the spot, where we were to take boat forMtlvillo 
Island, the place of our imprisonment. W^hen we arrived 
at the gates of tlie prison, hammocks and blankets were 
served out to us, as our names were called over. We 
were then ordered into the prison yard. And here I must 
remark, that 1 shall never forget the first impression, 
which the sight of my wretched looking countrymen made 
OH my feelings. Here we were, at once, surrounded by a 



it JOURNAL. 

ragjged set of quidnuncs^ eagerly inquiring, TVhat news ? — 
where we were taken ? and how ? and what success we 
had met witli before we v/ere (aken ? and every possible 
question, for American curiosity to put to a promiscuous 
set of new comers. 

After satisfying tliese brave fellows, who felt an uncom- 
mon interest in the events of the war, and the news of the 
day, I had time to notice the various occnpalions of these, 
poor fellows. Some were washing their own clothes ; 
others mending them. Others were intent on ridding their 
shirts and other clothing from lice, which, to the disgrace 
of the British government, are allowed to infest our pris- 
oners. It nmy, in part, be owing to the nastiness and neg- 
lif^-ence of the prisoners themselves, but the great fault 
and the disgrace, remain with the British. Wlioever 
could say that criminals, confined in our State prisons, 
were infected with vermin t Were our prison ships in 
Boston or Salem ever known to be lo'.isy } 

The l)!jiidings on Melville Island are constructed of 
•wood. Beside the prison, there is a cooking house, bar- 
racks for soldiers, and a storehouse ; a house for the olli- 
cers, and anotlier for the surgeon. There are a couple of 
cannon pointing towards the prison, and a Telegraph, for 
the purpose of giving intelligence to the fort, which over- 
looks this island and the town of Halifax. These build- 
ings are painted red, and have upon the whole, a neat ap- 
pearance. The prison itself is 200 feet in length, and .50 
in breadth. It is two stories high ; the upper one is for 
officers, and for the infirmary and dispensary : while the 
lower part is divided into two prisons, one for the French, 
the other for Americans. The prison yard is little more 
than an acre, the whole island being little more than five 
acres. It is connected on the south side with the main 
land by a bridge. The parade, so called, is between tiie 
Turnkey's house and the barracks. From all Mhich it 
may be gathered that Melville Island is a very humble 
gairison, and a very dreary spot for the officer who com- 
mands there. 

The view from the prison exhibits a ra^ige of dreary 
hills. On the northern side are a few scattered dwellings, 
and some attempts at cultivation ; on the southern noth- 
ins: appears bat immense piles of rocks, with bushes, scat- 
tered here and there in their hollows and crevices j if their 



JOURNAL. IS 

summer appearance conveys the idea of barrenness, iheir 
winter appearance must be dreadt'u! in this region of al- 
most everlasting frost and snow. This unfruitful country- 
is rif^htly named J\'*ew Scotland. Barren and unfruitful as 
old Scotland is, our J^Tova Scotia is worse. If Churchill 
were alive, what might he not say of this rude and unfin- 
ished part of creation, that glories in the name of New 
Scotland ? The picture would here be complete if it 
were set off willi here and there a meagre, and dried up 
liighlander, without shoes, stockings or breeches, with a 
ragged plaid, a little blue flat bonuet, sitting on a bleak 
rock playing a bag-pipe, and singing the glories of a 
country that never was conquered I To finish the picture, 
you have to imagine a dozen more ragged raw boned 
Scotchmen, sitting on the bare rocks around the piper, 
knitting stockings to send to England and America, where 
they can attord to wear thi'm. Such is Scotia old and 
new, whose sons are remarkable for 'their inveterate ha- 
tred of the Americans, us we shall see in the course of this 
narrative. 

As to the inside of the prison at Melville Island, if the 
American reader expects to hear it represented aa,a place 
resembling the large prisons for criminals in the United 
States, such as those at Boston, Charlestown, New York 
or Philadelphia, he will be sadly disappointed. Some of 
these prisons are as ch'an, and nearly us comfortable, as 
some of the monasteries and convents in Europe. Uur 
new prisons in the United States reth^ct great honour on 
the nation. They speak loudly that we are a considerate 
and hnmane people ; whereas the prison at Halifax, 
erected solely for the safe keeping of prisoners of war, 
resembles an horse stal)le, with stalls, or stanchions, for 
separating the cattle from each other. It is to a contriv-» 
ance of this sort that ihey attach the cords that support 
those canvass ijags, or crtidles called hammoeksi t'nur 
tier of these hanging nests were mad*; to swing one above 
another, between these stalls or stanchions. To those un- 
used to these lofty sleeping-births, they were rather un- 
pleasant situations for repose. But use makes every thing 
easy. 

The first time I was shut up for the night, in this prison, 
it dislr(;ssed me too nuich to close my eyes. Its closeness 
and siucll were, in a degree, disagreeable, but this was 



1-4 .TOURN'AL. 

trifling to what I experienced afterwards, in anotljer place. 
The general hum and confused noise from almost every 
liammock was at first, very distressing. Some v.onhl be 
lamenting their hard fate at being shut np like negro 
slaves in a guinea ship, or like f«uU in a lien coop, for 
no crime, but for fighting the battles of their country. 
Some were cursing and execrating tlreir oppressors; oth- 
ers, late at night, were relating their adventures to a new 
prisoner; others lamenting their aberrations from recti- 
tude, and disobedience to parents, and head strong w ilful- 
ness, that drove them to sea, contrary to their parents 
wish, w hile others, of the younger class, were sobbing out 
their lamentations at the thoughts of what their mothers 
and sisters suffered, after knowing of their ini[)risonment. 
Not unfreqnently the whole night was spent in tliis way, 
and wlien, about day break, the weary prisoner fell into a 
dose, he was waked from his slumber by the grinding noise 
of liie locks, and the unbarring of the doors, with the cry 
of ''^Mn^ out — (til out" when each man took down his ham- 
mock and lashed it up, and slung it on his back, and was 
ready to answer to the roll-ca41 of the turnkey. If any, 
througii natural heaviness or indisposition, was dilatory, 
lie was sure to feel the bayonet of the brutal soldier, who 
appeared to us to have a natural antipathy to a sailor, and 
from what I observed, I believe thi?a in general little or no 
love is lost between them. 

This prison is swept out twice a weck,hy the prisoners. 
The task is performed by the respective messes in tnrhs. 
When the prison is washed, the prisoners are kept out 
until it is perfectly dry. This, in the wet seasons, and in 
the severity of winter, is sometimes very distressing and 
dangerous to health; for there is no retiring place for 
shelter : — it is like a stable, where the cattle are either 
under cover, or exposed to the weather, be it ever so in- 
element. 

When we arrived here in ?4ay, 1813. there were abnnt 
nine hundred prisoners ; but many died by the severity of 
the winter; and tlie quantity of fuel allowed by the Brit- 
ish government was insufficient to convey warmth throijgh 
the prison. The men were cruelly harrassed by the bar- 
barous custom of mustering and parading them in the se- 
verest c'dd, and even in snow storms. The agent. ,V?(7er, 
might have alleviated the sufferings of our people, had he. 



JOLRN'AL, 15 

been so disposed, without relaxation of duty. Biii he. 
as Avell as the turnkey, named Grant, seemed to take de- 
liirht in tormenrina: the rVmericans. This man Mould often 
keep the prisoners out for many hours, in the severest 
weatlier, when the mercury was ten and fifteen dei^Tees be- 
Jow 0, under a pretext that the prison had been washed, 
and was not sufficiently dry for their reception, when in 
i'aet, every drop of water used, was in a moment ice. 
People in the soutliern stales, and the inhabitants of Knq;- 
land and Ireland, can form no adequate idea of the frii^ht- 
ful climate of Nova Scotia. The description of tiie suifer- 
ine;s of our poor fellows, the past v\ inter, was etiou^Ii t( 
make ones heart ache, ami to rouse our indignation aguins. 
the agents in this business 

Our people are sensible to kind treatment, and are readv 
to acknowledoje humane and considerate conduct toward 
themselves, or towards their companions ; but they an 
resentful in proportion as tlney are grateful. They speal- 
vcry generally of the conduct of Miller the agent, anu 
Grant the turnkey, with disgust and resentment. A 
complaint was made to him of the badness of the beef 
served out to the prisoners, upon wiiieh he collected the 
prisoners, and mauntcd the stair-case, began a most pas- 
sionate harrangue.declaringthat the beef was good enough, 
and ad — (Ideal better than thev had in t.'jeir own conn- 
try, and if they did not eat it, they should have none. He 
then went on as follows: — '•• Hundreds of you, d — d 
*' scroundrels, have been to me begging and pleading that 
" I would interpose my infiuence that you might be the 
" first to be exchanged, to return home to your families, 
• who were starvinn* in vour absence, and now' aou have 
" the impudence to tell me to my face, that tire King's 
*• beef is not good enough ibr your dainty stomach. Why 
'' some of that there beef is good enough for me to eat. 
" You are a set of mean rascals, von bes: of an enemv the fa- 
" vours w hich your own government won't grant you You 
" complain of ill treatment, when you never fared better in 
" your lives. Had you i)een in a Fieneh prison and'fed on 
" l!cr3e-!>eef, yon would have some grounds of complaint: 
" bin here in his Brittanick JNiajesty's royal prison, you 
" hav{» every thing that is right and proper for persons 
'' idkcn fighting against his crown and dignity. Tl'.ere 
J^ is a surgeon liere for you, if you are sick, and physicfc 



i 



i'S JOURNAL. 

" to take if you are sick, and a hospital to g;o to into tLe 
** bargain, aiul if you die, there are boards enough (point- 
" inaj to a pile of lumber in the yard) for to make you 
" cotlins, and an hundred and fifty acres of iand to bury 
** you in : and if you are not satisfied with all this you may 
^* die and be d — d.*'— -Havinj^ finished this eloquent 
harran^ue, orator Miller descended from his rostrum, and 
strutted out of the prison yard, accompanied with hisses 
from some of the prisoners. 

Ou a re-examination however of the" Kingi's beef,*' some 
pieces were found too much tainted for a doaj to eat, and 
the prisoners threw it over the pickets. After this, the 
supply of wholesome meat was such as it onp;ht to be ; 
full good enough for Mr. Miller himself to eat ; and some 
of the very !)est pieces good enough for Grant, the turnkey. 

In all this business of provision for prisoners of war, 
one thing €Uglit to be taken into consideration, which may 
be ottered as an extenuatiou of crime alledged against the 
British agents for prisoners : and that is, that the Ameri- 
can soldier and sailor Hve infinitely better in America, 
than the same class of people do in Great Britain and Ire- 
land. Generally speaking, an American eats three times 
the quantity of animal food that falls to the share of th« 
same class of people in England, Holland, Germany, Den- 
mark or Sweden. He sleeps more comfortably and lives 
in greater plenty of fish, flesh, vegetables and spirituous 
liquors. Add to this, his freedom is in a manner unbound- 
ed. He speaks his mind to any man. If he thinks he is 
wronged he seeks redress with confidence ; if he is insulted, 
he resents it ; and if you should venture to strike him, he 
never will rest quiet under the dishonor ; yet you seldom or 
ever hear of quarrels ending in murder. The dagger and 
pistol are weapons, in a manner unknown. The fist, a la 
mode de John Bull, is commonly the ultimatum of a Yan- 
kee's rage. 

We often hear the British, if they are unsuccessful, la- 
menting the war between England and America; they call 
it an unhappy strife between brethren ; and they attribute 
this " unnatural war," to a French influence ; and their 
friends in New England, who are denominated tories, use 
the same language ; they say that all the odium of the 
^var ought to fall on our administration and their wicked 
seducers, tte French 5 and yet yau will fiad that both in 



jaUHNAL. i7 

Itljiglanil anti at Halifax, the French meet with better 
IreatintMit than their dear brothers the Americans. 

We found that there were about two hundred French 
prisoners in Nova Scotia. Some liad been there ever 
since 1803. Few of them were coniined in prison. The 
chief of them lived in, or near the town of Halifax, work- 
ing for the inhabitants, or teaching dancing, or fencing, 
or their own language. Some \^ere employed as hutchtrs, 
and cooks ; others as nurses in llie hospital ; and theji 
were every where favoured for their complaisance, obedi- 
ence and good humour. They had the character of behav- 
ing better towards the British officers, and inhabitants 
than the Americans, and I believe witli reason; fur our 
men seem to take a delight in plaguing, embarrassing and 
alarming those who were set over them. A Frenchman 
always tried to please, while many Americans seemed to 
take an equal delight in letting the Nova Scotians know 
that they longed to be at liberty to fight them again. I 
confess 1 do not wonder that the submissive, smiling 
IiVenchmen made more friends at Halifax, than the ordi- 
nary run of American seamen, who seemed too often to 
look and speak as if they longed to try again the tug of war 
with John Bull. 

Sunday being a leisure day among the men of business 
in Halifax and its vicinity, the old refugees from the Unit- 
ed States used to come round the prison to gratify their 
eyes, instead of going to a place of worship, with the sight 
of what they called " rebels.'^ These are generally 
Scotchmen, or sons of Scotchmen, and are very bitter 
against the Americans. Some of this class were clergy- 
men, who came occasionally to pray and preach with us 
in prison. We paid every mark of respect to every mod- 
est and prudent minister who came among us to perform 
divine service ; but we never could restrain our feelings, 
when one of these refugee gentlemen came among us pray- 
ing for King George and the royal family of England. 
The men considered it as an insult, and resented it accord- 
ingly. Some of these imprudent men would fulminate 
the vengeance of Heaven, for what they conceived jjolit- 
ical, instead of moral errors. The prisoners respected 
some of these reverend gentlemen highly, while tl^ey des- 
pised some others. The priesthood, however, have less 

2 



is JOURNAL. 

jiold on the miiids of the people of the TJuited States, tha» 
of any other people on earth. 

The Bishops and Church of England are fast destroy- 
ing their own craft, by aiding the sly dissenters in spread- 
ing the Bible through every family in Britain and in 
America. In reading this blessed book, the people will 
see how Christianity has been corrupted. They will com- 
pare the arch-bishops and dignified clergy of the present 
degenerate days, with the plainness of our Saviour, and 
"with the simplicity of the holy fisherman and other of his 
disciples. Before this book the factitious institutions and 
gorgeous establishments of the modern priesthood will 
i'ade and die, like Jonah's gourd. The English Episco- 
pacy never has, nor ever ^^i\[ take deep root in the United 
States. It can never flourish in the American soil. Even 
the Roman Catholic religion is here a humble and ration- 
al thing. Its ministers are highly respected, because 
their lives adorn their doctrines ; and the parochal care 
of their flock, who are principally Irish, is seen and com- 
mended. It is observed throughout our sea ports, that the 
seafaring people are generous supporters of their minis- 
ters ; but these same people can never be made to pay 
tythes, or to hear and support a minister whom tliey had 
not directly or remotely chosen. This is the predominant 
sentiment of all the anglo-Americans. 

The daily allowance of the British government to our 
prisoners is one pound of bread, one pound of beef, and 
one gill of pease. Over and above this we received from 
the American agent a sufticieney of coffee, sugar, potatoes 
and tobacco. The first may be called the bare necessa- 
ries of life, but the latter contribute much to its comforta- 
ble enjoyment. Whether the British government ought 
not to have found the whole I am not prepared to deter- 
mine ; hot certainly, before this addition from our own 
agent, our men complained bitterly. 

In justice to Mr. Miller, the British agent, I ought to 
record that he paid great attention to the cleanliness of 
the prison, and to the clothes of the men ; and I must, at 
the same time, say that some of our men were very dirty, 
lazy fellows, that required constantly spurring up to keep 
them from being offensive. This indolent and careless 
disposition was observed to be chiefly among those who 
had been formerly intemperate : they felt the loss of their 
beiored stimulous, and their spirits sunkj and they had 



JOURNAL, Ig 

fatlier lay down and rot, and die, than exert themselves. 
There we're a few who seemed to be like hogs, innately 
dirty, and who had rather be dirty than clean. Mr^ 
Miller had therefore great merit in compelling these men 
to follow the rules prescribed to the whole prison. He 
has the thanks of every considerate American. 

It was a common remark, that the most indolent and 
most slovenly men were the most vicious ; and a dirty ex- 
ternal was a pretty sure indication of a depraved mind. 
Such as would not conform to the rules of cleanliness 
were committed to the black-hole, which was under the 
prison, and divided into solitary cells. The agent had 
\he power of confining a prisoner in one of these dungeons 
during ten days. It is to the credit of our seamen to re- 
mark that they co-operated with (he agent most heartily 
in whatever tended to preserve the cleanliness of their 
persons, and they applauded the confinement of sucli n« 
were disinclined to follow the salutary rules of tlie prison. 

AVe were one day not a little shocked by the arrival of 
a number of American soldiers who were entrapped and 
taken with Colonel BoerstleVf in Upper Canada. They 
rxhibited a picture of misery, woe and despair. Their 
miserable condition called forth our sympathy and com- 
passion, and I may add excited our resentment against 
the authors of their distress. These unfortunate lands- 
men had never been used to rough it like sailors, but had 
lived the easy life of farmers and mechanics. Some of 
them had never experienced the hardships of a soldier"? 
life, but were raw, inexperienced militia men. They were 
taken at some creek between Fort George and Little York 
by the British and their allies the Indians, who stripped 
Uiem of most of their clotliing, and then wore them down 
by very long and harrassing marches; first to Montreal, 
and then to Quebec ; and soon after crowded them on 
hoard transports, like negroes in a guinea ship, where 
some sutfered death, and others merely escaj)ed it. it ap- 
pears from their account and from every other account that 
the treatment of these poor fellows at their capture, and 
on their march, and more especially on board tlie transports 
from Quebec to Halifax, was barbarous in the extreme, and 
highly disgraceful to the British name and nation. 

We have it asserted uniformly, that the prisoners, who 
eame from Quebec to Halifax and to Boston, down the St. 



^0 jouiCnal. 

Lawrence, were treated and provided for in a niaiiiicr 
iittie above brutes. Colonel Scott, now Major General 
Scott, came by that rout from Quebec to Boston, and it U 
well known that lie complained that there was neither 
iiccommodatious, provisions, or any thing on board the 
ship proper for a gentiemau. He spoke of the whole 
treatment he received with deep disgust and pointed re- 
sentment, if an officer of his rank and accomplishments 
liad so much reason for complaint, we may easily conceive 
what the private soldier must endure. 

We paid every attention in our power to these poor 
soldiers, whose emaciated appearance and dejection gave 
lis renson to expect tl.al an end would soon be put to their 
snfterings by death. They, however, recruited fast; and 
we were soon convrnced that they were reduced to tlie 
{Condition we saw them in, absolutely for want of food. 
The account which these soldiers gave of their hardships 
was enough to fill with rage and resentment the heart of 
a saint. Four men were not allowed more provision than 
what was needful for one. They assured us, that if they 
liad not secretly come at some bags of ship bread, unknow n 
to the officers of the transport, they must have perished 
for want of food. We cannot pass over one anecdote. 
Some fish were caught by our own people on the passage, 
in common with the crew, but they were compelled to de- 
liver them all to the captain of the ship, who withheld 
Ihem from the American prisoners. Some of the prison- 
ers had a little money, and the captain of tr.e transport 
was mean enough to take a dollar for a single cod fish, 
from men in their situation. This fact has appeared iti 
several Boston papers, with the names of the persons con- 
cerned, and has never been contradicted or doubted. We 
gire this as the common report ; and as the Boston news- 
papers circulated freely through Nova Scotia and Canada, 
we infer that had the storv been void of truth it would 
have been contradicted. 

Those Americans who have no other knowledge of the 
English character, but what they gather from books made 
in London 5 and from their dramatic productions, and 
from their national songs, w ould believe, as 1 myself once 
did, that John Biill^ (by which name Dean Swift personi- 
fied the whole nation) was an humane, tender-hearted, 
irenerous gentleman ; but let him be once in the power of 



iOURNAL, M 

an Englishmasa, or what is still worse, of a Scotchman, 
aud it will correct his erroneous notions. An English- 
man is strongly attached to his King and country, and 
thinks nothing on earth can equal them, while he holds 
all the rest of the world in comparative contempt. Until 
the days of Bonaparte, the people of England really be- 
lieved that one Englishman could flog six Frenchmen. 
They at one time had the same idea of us, Americans ; 
but the late war has corrected their articles of belief. 
The humanity of the British is one of the most monstrous 
impositions. 

The most glaring feature in the English character is a 
vain glorious ostentation, as is exhibited in their elegant 
and costly steeples, superb hospitals, useless cathedrals, 
lying columns : sach as the monument near Loudon bridge^ 
^4hich as Pope says of it, 

" Lifts its tall head and lies:' 

But if you wish to learn their real character, look at theii" 
bloody code of laws, read their wars with Wales, with 
Scotland, and with Ireland. Look at India, and at their 
own West India Islands. Look at the present border war 
carried on by associating tliemselves with our savages 5 
Jook into this v-ery prison, ask the soldiers just brought 
into it, what they "think of British humanity or British 
bravery. A reliance on British veracity and honour 
caused* these poor fellows to surrender, when they found 
ihem worse than the Indians. Tiiese things may be for- 
given, but they ought never to be forgotten. 

Nova Scotia, or *N*ew Scotland, was formerly called 
Chebucto by the native Indians. It is a dreary region. 
The country, for many miles v.est of Halifax, is a continued 
range of mountains, rising one over the other, as fur as 
the eye can reach. The winters are severe, and the 
isprings backward. The trees appeared to be as bare on 
the 26th of May as the same kind of trees do in the middle 
«f March. To us there was something hideous in the as- 
pect of their mountains; but this may have been partly 
owing to our own hideous habitation, and Uav spirits. The 
same objects may have appeared charming in the eyes of 
a Scotch family, just arrired from the fag-end of the Islacd 
of threat Britain. 



22 jouBnal- 

The capital, Halifax^ was settled by a miniber of British 
subjects in 1749. It is situated on a spacious and com- 
modious bay or harbor, called Chebucto, of a bold and easy 
entrance, where a thousand of the lar^st ships might 
ride with safety. The town is built on the west side of 
the harbor, and on the declivity of a commanding hill, 
whose summit is 236 feet perpendicular from the level of 
the sea. The town is laid out into oblong squares ; the 
streets parallel and at right angles. The town and sub- 
urbs are about two miles in length ; and the general width 
a quarter of a mile. It contained in 1793, about 4000 in- 
habitants and 700 houses. At the northern extremity of 
I he town, is the king's naval yard, completely biiiit and 
supplied witii stores cf every kind {ot tl-e rouil navy. The 
harbor of Halifax is reckoned inferior to )io place in Bri- 
tish America for the seat of government, being open and 
accessibfe at all seasons of the year, v>hen almost ail other 
jiarbors in these provinces are locked up with ice ; als.a 
from its entrance, situation, and its proximity to the bay 
of Fundy, and principal interior settlements of the prov- 
ince. Thi^ city lying on tlie S coast of Nova Scotia has 
•communication with Fictou, 68 miles to the N E on the 
gulf of St. Lawrence, by a good cart road finished in 1792. 
it is 12 miles northerly of Cape Sambro, which forms in 
part the entrance of the bay; 27 south easterly of Wind- 
■«or, 40 N by E of Truro, 80* N E by E of Annapolis, on 
the bay of Fundy, and 157 S E of St. Ann, in New Bruns- 
wick, measuring in a straight line. N. lat. 44 40, W Ion. 
63 13. 

It was settled chiefly by Scotchmen; and since the rev- 
olutionary uar, which secured our independence, they 
have received considerable additions from the United 
iSfates of a class of men denominated refugees, who exiled 
ihemselves, on account of our republicanism and of their 
own attachment io the best of kings. They show too often 
iheir hatred to us. To this day they call us " rebels ;^* 
and they sj)eak to us in a stile and tone as if they were 
sorry they could not murder us without the risk of being 
han^red. 

It is strange, it is passing strange, that a whole people 
should be so strongly attached to the honor, crown and 
dignity of their conquerors as the Scotch are to the present 
roval family of England, whose ancestor was, in fact, an 



usurper of the crouii and dignities of the Seoteli race (»f 
kinj^s, the self sufficient Stowarts. The most remarkable 
thing in the reign of George (beside that of loosing Amer- 
ica) is the perfect conciliation of the Scotch. Whether 
this was owing to my Lord Bute, or to his relation, I am 
unable to say ; but it is a singular thing in the history of 
nations, when we take into consideration the cruel treat- 
ment of the J?Cf)feh so low down as the year 1745. As 
there is no new tiling under the "fiun^ and what has been 
may be again, who knows but that the Cherokees and 
Clwctaws^ the Chippewas^ the Hurons and Fottowatto' 
viies may hereafter become most attached to our govern- 
ment, and aifoid us Judges, Secretaries of State, Admi- 
rals, Generals, (iovcrnors of Provinces, Grooms of iUe. 
Htool, and liislorians .'' Who knows but the day will come, 
wlien tliere shall spring up from the mud and ooze of our 
own trilling lakes, another Jfatter Scott^ who shall sing 
as sublimely to the storv of our border wars; and who 
shall be able to trace a long and illustrious line of ances- 
try, up to the renowned chief »S*/;/i7-/oi;, kfulk-ln-the-wuter, 
Hans:in"r-mau\ or to Tecwnseh ? Who knows but that 
among these American highlanders, we shall find another 
Ossian and another Fingal? for what has been, under 
similar circumstances, may be again. 

Early in the month of July, we were not a little dis- 
furbed by the arrival of the crew of our ill omened, ill 
fated Chesapeake. 

The capture of this American frigate by the British 
frigate Shannon of equal force, was variously related. 
From all that I could gather, she was not judiciously 
brought into action, nor well fought after Capl. Lawrence 
fell. It is too much like the British to hunt up every pos- 
sible excuse for a defeat ; but wc must conclude, and I 
have since found it a general opinion in the United States, 
that tlie frigate was by no means in a condition to go intc^ 
action. The captain was a stranger to his own crew ; his 
ship was luml)ered up with her cables and every thing 
else. She ought to have cruised three or lour days before 
she met the Shannon, and that, it seems, was the opinion 
of the captain of the British frigate ; who was every way 
prepared for the action 

The rapid destruction of tlie British sloop of war Pea- 
cock, gave Law rence high reputation ; and he felt as if 



24t JOUki^At. 

lie must act up to his high character. He seemed like art 
hero impelled, by high ideas of chivalry, to fight, conquer 
or die, without attending to the needful cautions and prep- 
arations. His first officer he left sick on shore; his next 
officer was soon killed ; soon after which he fell himself, 
uttering the never to be forgotten words, *' Don't give 
UP THE SHIP," which has since become a sort of national 
motto. While the British captain prudently dressed him- 
self in a short jacket and round hat, so as not to distin- 
guish himself from the other officers, our Capt. Lawrence, 
who was six feet and four inches tail, was in his uniform 
and military hat, a fair and inviting mark for the enemy's 
sharp shooters. No one doubted his bravery, but some 
have called his prudence in question. 

This heroic man and his Lieutenant, Ludlow^ were 
three times buried with great military pomp ; first at Hal- 
ifax — then at Saiem, and last of all at New York. The 
name of Lawrence is consecrated in America, while hig 
ever unlucky ship is doomed to everlasting ignominy ; for 
this was the vessel that preferred allowing the British 
ship Leopard to nmster her crew, instead of sinking, with 
her colors flying. 

In the month of August, Halifax was alarmed, or pre- 
tended to be alarmed, by a rumor that the prisoners on 
Melville Island, which is about three miles, or less', from 
the town, meditated a sally, with a determination of seiz- 
ing the capital of Nova Scotia. They immediately took 
the most serious precautions, and screwed up their muni- 
cipal regulations to the highest pitch. All the loyal cit- 
izens entrusted with arms, were ordered to keep them- 
selves in readiness to march at a minute's warning to re- 
pel the meditated attack of about a thousand unarmed 
yankees, rendered formidable by a reinforcement of a few 
dozen half starved soldiers, who were taken by the In- 
dians and British and sent from Quebec down the river 
St. Lawrence, to the formidable American post on Mel= 
ville Island, under the command of turn-key Grant ! who 
was himself under the command of Lieut. General Mr. 
Agent Miller I 

It was reported and believed by many in Halifax, that 
the prisoners had made arrangements for the attack, and 
had sworn to massacre every man, woman and child. 
}Vhen we fouud that they really believed the ridiculous 



•TODRNAL, 2^ 

rtor}', we musf confess that we enjoyed tlieir terror, and 
laughed inwardly at their formidable precautions of de^ 
fence. They placed a company of artillery, with two pie^^ 
ees of cannon on a heiglit south of the prison ; and cleared 
up a piece of land, and stationed another corps of artillery 
w itli a cannon so placed as to rake our habitation length- 
wise, while sentries were placed at regulated distances on 
tlie road, all the way into the town of Halifax. An addi- 
. tional number of troops were stationed on the island, wha 
bivouacked in the open air near to the officers dwellings^ 
in otiier words, they were placed there to prevent us from 
cutting the otFicers throats with clam shells, or oyster 
shells, for we had nothing metallic for the purpose. 

VV^hen we saw these formidable preparations, and re- 
flected on our own helpless condition, without any means 
of ottence, beside our teeth and nails, we could not but des- 
pise our enemies; and we did not omit to increase their 
ridiculous alarm, by whispering together, pointing our 
lingers sometimes E. aiid sometimes \V. and sometimes Nr 
and sometimes S. and rubbing our hands and laughing and 
affecting to be in high spirits. The conduct of the agent, 
«it this threatening crisis of his affairs, did not diminish 
our contempt of him. He would often mount his rostrum, 
the head of the stair-ease, to address us, and assure us, 
that we should Soon be delivered from our confinement 
and be sent home. He said that he did not expect to see any 
of us in prison six weeks longer; and that our detention 
was then only owing to some delay of orders from admiral 
Warren ; but that he expected them every momeut. He 
therefore entreated us to remain contented and quiet a lit- 
tle longer, and not obstruct the kind intentions that were 
in train for our deliverance from captivity ; and he assur- 
ed us, upon his honor, that every thing should be done in 
his power to expedite our return home ; that there were 
then three cartels getting ready to convey us away. In 
the mean time every thing was said and done at Halifax 
to make us satisfied and quiet. 

While the agent was making his declarations of friend- 
ship, and protesting upon his honor, that we should ba 
sent home, he knew full well that the greatest part of the 
prisoners were to be sent across the atiantic, to sisfter the 
punishment of a British prison. T'/.e policy of the Eng- 
lish government wa?. it -eems. to disco'irage the enlist- 



S& JOURNAL, 

inent of soldiers into oar service by sending tlie prisoner^j 
taken on the frontiers, to England. They meant also to 
'listress us by jtccumulating our seamen in their prisons, 
and this they imagined would disenable us from manning 
our men of war, or sending out privateers. They prefer- 
red every mode of distressing us to that of fair lighting; 
for, in fair fight and equal numbers, we have always beat 
them by sea and land. 

We were in good humor and high spirits at the prospect 
*f leaving our loathsome den, and once more returning 
home to see our mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers, 
and school fellows, and the old jolly companions of our 
happy days. We smiled upon Mr. Agent Miller, and he 
tipoH us. We greeted our turn key, the now and then 
smooth tongued Mr. Grant, w ith a good morrow, and all 
feelings of hostility were fast subsiding : and one told him 
that he should be very glad to see him in Boston ; anoiliet 
said he should he very glad to see him in Marblehead, 
and another at New York, and Baltimore, and so on. 

Towards the close of the month of August, and after 
Mr. Agent Miller and the military had taken the most ef- 
fectual method to provide against the possibility of resist- 
ance from the prisoners, reports now and then reached us, 
that the expected exchange w as unhappily broken off, and 
that it was the fault of the American government. These 
things were hinted at with great caution, as not entitled 
to entire credit; the next day it was said that the business 
of exchange was in a prosperous train. All this was done 
by waj of feeling the pulse of the most respectable of the 
prisoners ; those most likely to take the lead in an insur- 
rection. We could easily trace all these difterent stories 
to the cunning Mr. Miller, through his subordinate agents. 

On the first day of September, 1813, an hundred of us 
prisoners were selected from different crews, and ordered 
to get our baggage ready and be at the gate at a certain 
hour. On enquiring of our keeper, Mr. Grant, what was 
the design of this order, h« replied, w ith his habitual du- 
plicity, that we were " to be sent home.''' When Mr. Mil- 
ler was asked the same question, he replied, that he had 
a particular reason, at that time, for not answering the 
^^uestion ; but none of us doubted from the selection from 
difterent crews, but that we were about to be sent to our 
bsloved country and natal heme«. We left the prison with 



JCURNAL. fff 

^ight hearts, not uithout pitying onr companions, who 
were doomed to wait awhile longer belorc they eoiiJd be 
:nade so happy as wc then felt. We stepped on board the 
boats with smiling countenances. The l)arge men told us 
that the ships we were going to were cartels. 

Having arrived among the shipping, the officer of the 
boat was asked, which of tliese several ships was the car- 
tel — '''there,'' said he, pointing to an old 4-t, '"isihe ^liip, 
• irfiich is, to take ynu to Old En2:laudP Heavens above! 
What a stroke of thimd'-'r was this ! We looked at each 
other with horror, with dismay, and stupefaction, before 
onr depressed souls recoiled with indignation ! Such a 
change of countenance 1 never beheld I Had we been on 
the deck of a ship, and been informed that a match was 
just about being touched to her magazine of powler, we 
should not have exiiibited such a [jieture of paleness and 
dismay. The deception was cruel ; the duplicity was in- 
famous. The whole trick from beginning to end was an 
instance of cowardice, meanness and villainy. It proves 
lliat cowards are cruel ; that barbarity and sincerity never 
meet in the same bosom. 

We now saw that the rumor of our rising upon our 
keepers, and marching to Halifax was a miserable false- 
liood. spread abroad for no other purpose than to double 
our guards, and prevent the imagined consequences of des- 
peration, should it be discovered that we were to be sent 
across the athmtie. It is possible we might have sue- 
eeeded in disiirming the soldiers on the island, and taken 
iheir cannon ; but for want of more arms we could have 
done but little. Had we all been armed we could liave 
entered Halifax, and put to the test the bravery of these 
loyalists ; but an unarmed multitude arc nothing before an 
eighth part of their number of regular soldiers. Military 
men, in Halifax, could never have had a moment's serious 
apprehension from the jirisoners on Melville Island. It is 
my firm oj)inion, however, that had we been apprized of 
our cruel destination, we should have risen upon the boats 
and attempted an escape, or sold our lives dearly. Ke- 
venge and desperation have done wonders; and both 
would have steeled the heart and nerved the arm of our 
little band of sufterers. Had we not been bet^uiled witK 
the lies of the agent and his turn key, we should have 
given our enemies a fresh proof of American bravery, if 



JiS JOURNAL. 

not of impriideRce. Had Miller been on board the boat 
^vith us, \\e sliould most certainly bave < brown bim over- 
board. His base and disboiiorable artiiiee. first to raise 
eur bopes and expectations to tlie beipjlit of joy, and tben 
Id sink us in despair, Mas an infamous deed, Morlby such 
a reward. Speaking; for myself, I declare, tbat my beart 
sunk witbin me, and I came near faintinp;, and it was some 
lime before tears came to my relief; tben in a burst of in- 
dignation, I cursed tbe perfidious enemy, and felt my soul 
v.ound III) to deeds of desperatiou. 



CHAPTER 11. 

Had tbe agent informed us of tbe orders of bis govern- 
ment, and made us acquainted witb our destination, we 
«!i!iould ba\e braced our minds up to tbe occasion, and sub- 
mitted to our hard fate like men. We sbould bave said 
to eacb olber in tbe language of Sbakespeare — " if these 
•* things be necessities^ let*s meet rhem like necessities ;^* 
])ut to be deceived and duped, and cajoled into a state of 
great joy and exultation, and tben, in an instant, precipi- 
tated into tbe dark and cold regions of despair, was bar- 
barous beyond expressien. As much resentment as I feel 
towards JVliller and bis subalterns, 1 cannot wisb eitlierof 
them to suffer tbe pangs 1 felt at tbe idea of this floating 
dungeon. 

The late Governor Gerry, in one of bis communica- 
tions to tbe legislature of Massachusetts, when speaking 
of tbe impressment and ill usage of our seamen by tbe 
Enelisb, calls a British man of war *' a floatins: Pandemo- 
" 7iium/^ I never felt tbe force of tbat expression until I 
entered on board this floatins: helL 

After some difhcult} and delay we got ourselves and 
Ijedding up tbe side of tbe ship; and as our names were 
called over, our bedding was served out to us. We in- 
formed the oflieer that there were but seventy blankets for 
an hundred men ; to which he replied, that he bad orders to 
serve out blankets in the san e proportion as they ser\ed 
oat our provisions. To understand this, the reader must 



JOURNAL. 



S9 



know tliat the Brilisli have been in the habit, all the war, 
of u^iviug to tlieir prisOHers a less (juaulily of food than to 
their o\Cn men. They uniformly 2;ave to sLv of us. the 
same quantity which they ;j;ave \o four of t!»eir own sailors. 
If what lhey'allow€(l to' their own men was barely suifi- 
cient, whatthey gave to us could not be enouu;h lo satisfy 
the cravin2;s of hunger; and tins we all found to be the 
case. 

Iho erew of the man of war sleep on the deck, which is 
next under the gun deck, >>hile our destination was on the 
deck under that. ]t was to the ship what the cellar is to 
a house. It was under water, and of course, without win- 
dows, or air holts. All tlie air and light came through 
the hatch way, a sort of trap door or cellar way. In this 
floating dungeon, we miserable young men spent our first 
night, in sleepless anguish, embittered with the apprchen- 
si«!i of fMir sutlcring a cruel death by sufVoeation. Here 
the black hole of Calcutta rose to my view in all ils hor- 
rors; and the very thought stopped my iespinition, and 
set my brain on tire. In my di^lress, 1 stamped with my 
feet, and beat my head against the side of the ship in the 
madness of despair. 1 measured the misery of those 
around me bv what I mvself suflercd. Shut up in the 
dark, with ninety-nine dislre^sed >our.g men, like so numy 
galley slaves, or Guinea negroes, excluded from the l)enc- 
iit of the common air. without one ra> of light or comfort, 
and without a single wor<l expressive of compassion from 
any ollicer of tlu' ship. 1 never was so near sinking into 
despair. We naturally cling to life, but now 1 should 
liave welcomed death. 1\> be coniined, and even chained 
any where in the light of the sun. is ii distressing thing, 
especially to very young men, but to be crowded into a 
dirty hole in the dark, where there was no circulation 
of air is beyond expression liorrible. Perhaps my study 
of the human frame, and my knowledge of the vital prop- 
erty of the air, aixl of the philosophy of the vital functions, 
may have added to my distress. 1 remembered what I had 
read and learnt in the course of mv education, viz : that 
every full grown person requires /or///-e/^//^ thuusand cu- 
bic inches of air in an hour, or one million one hundred and 
Jiff y-twn thousand cubic inches in the course of a day ; and 
that if this is once received into the lungs and breathed 
out again, it cannot be breathed a secoHd time, till it is 



3d JOURXAL. 

mixed with the common atmospheric air. When I eon^ 
sidered that ouv number amounted «o an hundred, I couH 
not drive from my mind this calculalion, and the result of 
it nearly deprived me of my reason. The horrors of the 
Black Hole uf Calcutta have been h)ng celebrated, because 
Englishmen suffered and perished in it. Now the Knsjlish 
have more than a thonsana black holes into which they 
iinfeelini^ly thrust th.eir impressed men, and their prison- 
ers ol war. Their tenders that lay in the Thames, off 
Tower-uharf are so many hlack holes into Mhich thev 
thrust their own people, whom their press g;an^s seize in 
the streets of London, and crowd into them like so many 
live rabbits or chickens carryinpj in a cart to market. My 
reflections on these things have greatly changed my opinion 
of the English character in point of humanity. • 

After passing a wretched night, one of the petty officers 
came down to us, by which event, we learnt that it was 
morning, i found myself much indisposed 5 my tongue 
was dry and coated with a furr; my head ached violently, 
and I felt no inclination to take any thing but cold water. 
A degree of calmness, however, prevailed among my fel- 
low prisoners. They found lamentations unavailing, and 
complaints useless. Few of them, beside myself, hat! lost 
their appetites, and several expressed a wish for some 
breakfast. Preparations w ere soon made for this delicious 
repast. The first step was to divide us into messes, six 
in a mess. To each mess was given a wooden kid, or pig- 
gin, as our farmers call them, because it is out of such 
wooden vessels that they feed their pigs that are fatting 
for the market. At 8 o- clock one was called from eacii 
mess, by the whistle of the boatswain's mate, to attend at 
the galley, the nautical name for the kitchen and fire 
place, to receive the breakfast for the rest. But what 
was our disappointment to find instead of coffee, which we 
were allowed by our own government at Melville prison, 
a piggin of swill, for we farmers^ sons can give no other 
name to the disgusting mess they brought us. This 
breakfast was a pint of liquid which they call Burs;ooy 
which is a kind of oatmeal gruel, about the consistence of 
the swill which our farmers give their hogs, and not a 
whit better in its quality. It is made of oatmeal, which 
we Americans very generally detest. Our people consider 
ground oats as only fit for cattle; and it is never eaten by 



JOURNAL. 3i 

(he lujinan species in the United States. It is said that 
this oatmeal porridge, was introduced to the British pris- 
ons by tlie Scotch influence, and we think that uone but 
hogs and Scotchmen ouglit to eal it. A mess more repel- 
lant to ayankee's stomach could not well be contrived. It 
is said, however, that the Highlanders are very fond of it, 
and that the Scotch piiysieians extol it as a very whole- 
some and nutritious food, and very nicely calculated for 
the sedentary life of a prisoner ; but by what we have 
heard, we are led to helieve that oatmeal is the staple 
commodity of Scotland, and that the highly favored 
Scotch have the exclusive privilege of supplying the mis- 
erable creatures whom the fortune of war has thrown into 
the hands of the English, with this national dish, so deli- 
cious to Scotchmen, and so abhorrent to an American. 

Excepting this pint of oatrjeai porridge, wc had noUL 
ing more to eat or drink unti' dinner ttuif : wl ivv<e 

served with a pint of pea w( ' ^ Ow -i ior the 

week, for it is difticult to cal laic it ov ii.r v.-^^. w:.s faur' 
and a half pounds of bread, two and a quarter pounds of 
beef or pork, one and a quarter pounds of flonr, and the 
pea tvater, which they called " soup,^* five days in every 
\veek. Now let any man of knowledge and observation 
judge, whether the portion of food here allotted to each 
man was sufficient to preserve him from the exquisite tor- 
tures of hunger ; and perhaps there is no torture more in- 
lolerable to young men not yuA arrived to their full growth. 
%Ve had been guilty of no crime. We had been engaged 
in the service of our dear country, and deserve applause 
and not torture. And be it forever remembered, tiiat the 
Americans always feed their prisoners well, and treat 
lliem with humanity. 

The Jietaiulus, for that is the name of the ship we were 
in, is, if J mistake not, an old line of battle ship, armed 
tnjlidej. that is, her lower deck was fitted up with bunks, 
or births, so large as to contain six men in a birth. The 
only passages for light or air were through the main and 
fore hatches, which were covered with a orratins*, at 
which stood, day and night, a sentinel. The communica- 
tion between our dungeon and the upper deck was only 
thr«Hgh the main hatch way, by means of a rope ladder, 
that could be easily cut away at a moment's warnina:, 
shouhl the half starved American prisoners ever conclude 



S2 JOURNA.I. 

to rise ami take the ship, nhich these hrare British fars 
seemed coiislantly apprehensive of. You may judge of 
iheir apprelieusio'ns by their extraordinary precautions — 
Ihey had a Iars;e store' of muskets in their tops to be ready 
for their mariues and crew should we yankees drive them 
from tlie hull to seek safety above. They had two car- 
ronadcs loaded with grape and eannister shot on the poop, 
pointiiiiz; forward, with a man at each ; and strict orders 
were ^iveu not to hold any conversation Vrith the Ameri- 
cans, °under the penalty 'of the severest chastisement. 
However improbable the" thing may appear, we discussed 
the matter very seriously and repeatedly among ourselves, 
and compared the observations we made when on deck, in 
our council chamber under water. It seems that the Bri- 
tish are apprized of the daring spirit of the Americans ; 
thev ^atch them with as much dread as if they were so 
inany ngt. ..^ 

Just before we salted, oiir old friend, Mr. Miller, came 
on board, and we were all called upon deck to hear his 
last speech and receive his blessing. We conceited that 
he looked ashamed, and felt embarrassed. It is probable 
that the consciousness of having told us things that were 
not true, disconcerted him. He however, in a milder man- 
ner and voice than !isual, told us that we were going to 
England to be exchanged, while there were some iu another 
ship gciu^g to E?}g'aad to be hanged. Beside this enviable 
diflerence in our situation, compared with those traitoreufi 
Irishmen, who had been fighting against their king and 
country, we were very fortunate iu being the first selected 
to go, as we should, of course, be the first to be exchanged 
anil sent home. He told us that he thought it probable 
that wc should be sent home again before spring, or at 
farthest in the spring; he therefore exhorted us to be good 
boys during the passage, and behave well, and obey or- 
deri, an<l that would insure us kind and humane treat- 
ment ; but that if we were mutinous, or attempted to resist 
the authority of the officers, our treatment would be less 
kind, and we should lose our turn in the course of ex- 
change, and that our comfort and happiness depended en- 
tirely on our own submissive behavior. He every now 
and then gave force to his assertions by pledging his honor 
tlial what he said was true, and no deception. 

As this was probably the last time we should have an 



JOURNAL. 3* 

f*pportunity of a personal communication with Mr. x\geut 
Miller, we repre-^eiitid to him that there were several of 
the prisoners destitute of comfortable clotliiiii;; that tho 
clothes of some were not even decent to cover those parts 
of the body that even our savage Indians conceal, and hn 
promised to accommodate them; hut we never heard any 
more of him or the clothing. However it may be account- 
ed for, we saw this man part from us with rej^ret. It 
seemed to be losint" an old acquaintance, wliile we were 
goin^ we knew not uhere — to meet we knew not what. 

Previous to our sailing we had applied to Mr. Mitchell^ 
the American agent, for a supply of clotliing ; but from 
some cause or other, he did not relieve the wants of our 
gnifering comjianions. Mr. Mitchell may he & very good 
man ; but every good man is not fit for every station. We 
Jiad rather see old a^^e, or decrepitude, pensioned by the 
government we support, than employed in stations that 
require high heaitli and activity. Disease and infir- 
mity may check or impede the benevolent views of our 
government, and east an odium on the olficers of adminis- 
tration. After all. we mav find fault \^hGre we ouorht to 
praise. It is possible that we may not have made due al- 
lowance for Mr. Miller, the British agent, and we may 
have sometimes <leuouneed him in terms of bitterness, 
when he did not deserve it. His general conduct, however, 
we could not mistake. 

On the ihinl of September, 1813, we sailed from Hali- 
fax in company with the Melpomene^ a man of war trans- 
port, aimed en iiute. On board of this ship were a num- 
ber of Irishmen, who had enlisted io our regiments, and 
were captured in Upper Canada, fighting under the colors 
of the U«ited States of America; or, in the language of 
the English government, found fio^hting against their king 
and coantrt/. The condition of these Irisfimen was tra y 
pitiable. ITnalde to live in their own oppressed country, 
they, in imitation of our fore-fathers, left their native 
land to eniov iibertv, and the fruits of their labor in 
another. They abandoned Ireland, where they were op- 
pressed, and chose tliis country, where ihey vvere protected 
and kindly treated. Many of them had married in America, 
and considered it their home. Here thev cho?e to live, 
and here they wished to die. As few of* them had trades, 
ihev got their living as laborers, or as seamen. The em- 

3* 



31< JOURNAL. 

bars^oes an»I the war threw them out of business, and mani 
of them enlisted in our army; lliat is, in the army «)f the 
uouiitry whieh tliey had chosen, and had a ri^htto choose, 
ISeither our nor tlieir consciences forbade them to fisjht 
for us, ai:^ainst the English and their allies, the Indians. 
In their eyes, and in the eye of our laws, no imputation of 
crinie could be attached to their conduct; yet were these 
men seized from amonp; other prisoners, taken in battle, 
and sent toi^ether in one ship, as traitors and rebels to 
Hicir countrij. We fled from our native land, said these 
unfortunate men, to avoid the tyranny and oppression of 
our British task-masters, and the same tyrannical hand 
has seized us here, and sent us back to be tried, and per- 
haps executed as rebels. Beside the privations, hunger 
and miseries that we endured, these poor Irishmen had be- 
fore their eyes, the apprehension of a violent and igno- 
minious death. While we talked among ourselves of the 
jiard fate of these brave Hibernians, we were ashamed to 
lament our own. 

1 cannot help remarking here, that the plan of retalia- 
tion determined by President Madison, merits the respect 
and gratitude of the present and future generations of men. 
It was this energetic step that saved the lives, and insur- 
ed the usual treatment of ordinary prisoners of war to 
these American soldiers of Irish birth. This firm deter- 
T^iinatiou of the American executive arrested the bloody 
hand of the British. They remembered Major Jindve, 
and they recollected Sir James Jsgill, under the adminis- 
tration of the great Washington, and they trembled for 
the fate of their ow n officers. May eternal blessings here, 
and hereafter, be the reward of Madison, for his rigiiteous 
intention to retaliate on the enemy any public punishment 
that should be executed on these American soldiers, of 
Irish orii;in. While we feel gratitude and respect to the 
head of the nation for his scheme of retaliation, we cannot 
suppress our feelings of disgust towards the faction in 
our own cj.untry, who justified the British government in 
th»-irc<»ndnct towards these few Irishmen, and condemned 
our own for protecting them from an ignominious death. I 
speak it with shame for my country, the ablest writers of 
th«' oppositionists, and the oldest and most celebrated 
ministtr^ of religion, employed their pens and their voices 
to ctndemn Mr. Madison akd to justify the British doc- 



JOURNAL, 3^ 

trlise. This is a deep stain on the character of our cler- 
gy ; and the subsequent conduct oi' the Britiyh, may serve 
to shew these ever oieddiiMs^ men, that our enemies des- 
pised them and respected Madison. 

Our voyage across the Atlantic atforded but few inci- 
dents for remark. Every day brought the same distressed 
sensations, and every night the same doleful feelings, 
arising from darkness, stench, increased debility and dis- 
ease. The {general and most distressina* in the catalogue 
of our miseries, was the almost unceasing torment of hun- 
ger. Many of us would have gladly partaken with our 
father's hogs, in their hog-troughs. This barbarous system 
of starvation reduced several of our hale and hearty young 
men to mere skeletons. What with the allowance of the 
enemy, and the allowance from our own government, in 
which was good hot coffee for breakfast, w^e were gener- 
ally robust and hearty at Melville Island Some of our 
companions might well be called line looking fellows, when 
we came first on board the Regulus,but before we arrived 
on the coast of England they were so reduced and weaken- 
ed, that they tottered as they walked. It was the opinion 
of us all, that one young man absolutely died fur want 
of sufficient food ! Yes ! Christian reader, a young Amer- 
ican, who was carried on board the llegulus, man of war 
transport, perished for want of suflicient to eat. In this 
insufficiency of food, complaint was made to the Captaiii 
of the Regulus, but it produced no increase of the scanty 
allowance ; and had the common sailors possessed no more 
humanity than their officers, we might all have perished 
with hunger. You who never felt the agonizing torture of 
hunger, can have no idea of our misery. The study of my 
profession had acquainted me, that when the stomach is 
empty and contracted to a certain degree, that it, in a 
measure, acts upon itself, and draws all the neighbouring 
organs into sympathy with its distress : this increases to 
an agony that ends in distraction ; for it is well known 
that those who are starved to death, die raving distracted ! 
Some of us in the course of this horrid voyage could have 
eaten a puppy or kitten could we have laid hands upon 
either. 

Our constitutions, mind and body united, were so con- 
stantly impressed and worried with the desire of eating, 
that the torment followed us in oar sleep. VVe were con- 



36 JOURNAL. 

slantly dreaming of taules finely spread with a plenty of all 
tkose ^ood and savouring things witfi which \vi' used to be 
regaled at home, when we would wake smacking our lips, 
and groaning with disappointment. 1 pretend not to 
say, that the allowance was sufficieiit to keep some men 
pretty comfortable, but it was not hall* enough for some 
others. It is well known in common life, that one man 
will eat three times as much as another. The quality of 
the bread served out to us on board the Regulus, "as not 
fit and proper for any human being. It was old, and 
more like the powder of rotten wood than bread-stuti', 
and to crown all, it was full of worms. Often have I 
seen our poor fellows viewing their daily allowance of 
bread, with mixed sensations of pain and pleasure, with 
smiles and tears, not being able to determine whether they 
liad best eat it all up at once, or to eat it in small portions 
throusrh the dav. Some would devour all their bread at 
once, worms and all, wliiie others would be eating small 
portions through the day. Some picked out the worms, 
ttnd threw them away, others eat them, saying that they 
might as well eat the worm as his habitation. Some rea- 
soiied and debated a long time on the subject. Prejudice 
8aid, throw the nasty thing away, \^hile knawing liunger 
held his hand. Birds, said they, are nourished by eating 
worms, and if clean birds eat them why may not man ? 
Who feels any reluctance at eating of an oyster, with 
all its parts, and why not a worm ? 

One day while we were debating the subject, one of our 
jack tars set us a laughing, by crying out — '' Retaliation 
by G — , these d — d worms eat us when we are dead^ and so 
me will eat them first." This shews that misery can some- 
times lauffh. I have observed that a sailor has senerallv 
more laughter and good humour in him than is to be found 
among any other class of men. They have beside a screat- 
er share of compassion than the soldier. We had repeat- 
ed instances of tlieir generosity; for while the epaulctted 
otticers of this British ship treated us like brutes, the 
common sailors would, now and then, give us of their own 
allowance ; but they took care not to let their officers 
know it. 

The Regulus had brought British soldiers to America, 
and among the rags and iilth left behind them were my- 
riads of fleas. These were at first a source of vexatioit, 



JOURNAL. 5? 

but at length their destruction became an amusement. 
We could not, however, overcome them ; like the perse- 
cuted Christians of old times, when you killed one, twen- 
ty would seem to rise up in his place. Had I have known 
what I have since learnt, and had been provided witli the 
essential oil of pennyroyal, we should have conquered all 
these light troops in a few days. A few drops of this es- 
sential oil, dropped here and there upon the blankets in- 
fested with fleas, and they will abandon the garment. The 
efliuvium of it destroys them. 

Confined belov/, we knew little of what was going on 
upon deck; some of us, however, were more or less there 
every day. Nothing occurred worthy notice during our 
passage to England, excepting tiie retaking of a brig cap- 
tured a few hours before on the Grand Bank by the fri- 
gate President, Commodore Rodgers. From information 
obtained from the midshipman who commanded the prize, 
we learnt the course of the President, whereupon we al- 
tered ours to avoid being captured. A few hours after 
this, we fell in with tlie Bcllerophon, a British seventy- 
four, who went, from our information, in pursuit of the 
President. We coJild easily perceive that the fame of 
our frigates had inspired these masters of the ocean with 
a degree of respect bordering on dread. We overheard 
the sailors say, that they had rather fall in with two 
French frigates than one American. We thought, or it 
might be conceit, that we were sj)oken to with more kind- 
ness at this time. 1 have certainly had occasion for re- 
marking, that prosperity increases the insults and hard 
heartedness of the British, and that we never received so 
much humane attention as when they apprehended an at- 
tack from us, as in the case of alarm at Halifax. I was 
brought up, all my life, even until I left my father's house, 
and came oft* without calculation, or reflection on this wild 
adventJire in a privateer, in the opinion that the English 
were an humane, generous and magnanimous people, and 
that none but Turks, Frenchmen and Algerines, were 
cruel ; but my experience for three years past has cor- 
rected my false notions of this proud nation. If they do 
not impale men as the Algerines and Turks do, or roast a 
man as the Indians do, and as the Inquisitors do, they will 
leave him to starve, and linger out his miserable days 
m the hole of a ship, or in a prison, where the blessed 



4^ 



e» 



'^ jovaxAL 



air is chan^'cd into a poison, and where the articles given'' 
him to eat, are far worse in quality than the swill, with 
\>hii*h the American farmer feeds his hog^s How can 
an oiiicer, how can any man, holding in society the rank 
of a gentleman, set down to his meal in his cabin, when 
he has a hundred of his fellow creatures, some of them 
brought up with delicacy and refinement, and with the 
feelings of gentlemen — 1 say, how can he sit composedly 
down to his dinner, while men, as ffood as himscH*. are 
suffering for want of food There is in this conduct, 
either a cold blooded cruelty, or a stupidity and want of 
reflection, that does no honour to that officer, or to those 
who gave him his command. 

It happened, when some of us were allowed, in our turn 
to be on deck, that we would lay hold and pull or belay 
a rope when needed. When we arrived at Portsmouth, 
>vhieh was the fifth of October, we were visited by the 
health officer ; and w hen we again weighed anchor to go 
to the quarantine ground, the boatswain's mate came to 
tell us, that it was the captain's order, that we should 
tumble up, and assist at the capstan. Accordingly three 
«r four went to assist ; but one of our veteran tars bid him 
to go and tell his eaptafn, that hunger and labour were 
not friends, and never would go together ; and that from 
prisoners who subsisted three days in a week on pea-icater, 
could only gire him pea-water assistance. This speech 
raised the temper of the officer of the deck, w ho sent down 
some marines, who drove us all up. There was aroonpj 
lis a Dutchman, who was very forward m complying with 
the officer's request ; but being awkward and careless 
withall, he suffered himself to he jambed between the end 
©f the capstan-bar and the side of the ship, which hurt 
him l)adly. Some of the prisoners collected round their 
wounded companion, when the officer of the deck ordererl 
them to take the d — d blunder-headed fellow below, and 
Jet some American take his place ; but after this expres- 
sion of brutality towards the poor jambed up Dutchman, 
not a man would go near the cap«tan, so one of their own 
crew tilled up the vacancy made by the wounded Hol- 
lander. 

A Mr. S , who had some office of distinction in 

Newfoundland, if 1 mistake not he was the first in com- 
mand of that dreary island. This gentleman, who 1 thin!: 



*tJhey called General Smitli, was passenger on board ihu 
Kes^iiius ; one day, when 1 was uj>on deck, he asked me 
how many of the hundred prisoners conid read and write. 
1 told him that it was a rare thin^* to tir.d a person, male 
or female, in New Kn2;land, who could not write as well 
as read. Then, said he, New En2;iand must he covered 
with charity schools. 1 replied^ that we had no charity 
schools, or very few; at which he looked as if he tlioui^ht 
1 had uttered an ausurditv 1 then related in a few words 
our schcMiI system. 1 told him, that the primary condi- 
tion of every town in Massachusetts, and I helie\'ed in the 
other four New En2;land Stjites, was a reserve of land, 
and a bond to m;iiiitain a seluxd or schools, according:; to 
the liumlier of inhabitants; that the teachers were sup- 
ported by a tax, in the same way as we supported our 
clertiiy ; that such schools were opened to every child, 
from the children of the first mai^istrale down to the chil- 
dren of the cons(al)le ; and that there was no distinction, 
promotion or favour, but what arose from talent, industry 
and i^ood behaviour. I told him that the children of the 
poorest people, e;etierally went to school in the winter, 
\\hilc in the sprinj^ and summer they assisted their par- 
ents. 

He walked about musiiip^ aw hile, and then turnina; back, 
asked me if the clerg;y di<I imt dev.ite much of their time 
to the instruction of our >outli — verv seldom, sir — our 
Touns^ students of divinity and tlieolosjical candidates very 
ofteti instruct youth; but when a j^entlcMnan is once ordain- 
ed and settled as a parish minister, he never or very rarely 
keeps a school. At which the general appeared snrj)ris- 
ed. I \dded that sometimes episcopal cler^;ymen kept a 
scliool, but never the presbyterian, or conq;re2;ational min- 
isters. He asked why the latter could not keep school as 
Mell as the former; 1 told him, because they were expect- 
ed to write their own sermons, at which he laus^hed. Be- 
sides parochal visits consume mueh of their time, and 
ivhtn a cons^rea^aiion have stipulated with a minister to 
fill the pulpit, and preach two sermons a week, visit the 
sick and attend funerals they think he can have no time 
to write sermons, they moreover consider it dero^^atory to 
the honour of his flock to be oblij^ed to keep a school — 
when I told him that our clerii;ymen bent all their force to 
iustructinc^ youth in morality and religion, be said, the« 



40 



JOURNAL. 



{Ley attempt to raise a structure before they lay a founda- 
tion for it. He seemed very strenuous that our priests 
should be employed in the education of youth, as he con- 
ceived that hired school masters had not the pions zeal 
that the priest would have. I suspect, said General S. 
that your priests are too proud and too lazy. 1 perceived 
bis idea was, that a school master, hired to undero'o the 
drudpjery of teachins; boys, was too much of an hireling 
to fill up to the full the important duties of a teacher; 
but he judged of them by the numerous Scotch school 
masters here and there in Canada, Nova Scotia, the \\ est 
India islands and every where, teaching for money merely. 
He did know tliat our New Enp;land school masters were 
men of character and consequence. Some of our very tirst 
men in the United States, have been teachers of youth. 
At this present time some of the sons of the first men in 
Massachusetts are village school masters : that is, they 
keep a scliool in (he winter vacations of the University 5 
some of them for the first year after leavins: collea:e. 

1 was much pleased with the general ; and have since 
Jearnt, that he was a very worthy and benevolent man ; 
and that he had paid great attention to the education of 
youth in Newfoundland ; and that it was, in a degree, his 
ruling passion. 1 wish I had then known as much of our 
school system, and of our system of public education at 
our Universities, as 1 do now ; for I might have gratified 
his benevolent disposition by tlie recital. The ignorance 
of English gentlemen of the people of America, is indeed 
surprising as well as mortifying. By their treatment of 
«s, it is evident they consider us a sort of white savages, 
with minds as uncultivated, and dispositions as ferocious 
as their own allies, with their tomahawks and scalping 
knives. After conversing with this worthy Englishman, 
about the education of the common people in Americu, I 
could not but say to myself, little do you, good sir, and 
your haughty, unfeeling captain imagine, that there are 
those among the hundred miserable men whom you keep 
confined in the hold of your ship like so many Callipago 
turtles, and who you allow to suffer for w.int of sufficient 
food ; little do you think that there are among them those 
who have sufficient learning to lay the whole story of their 
sufferings before the American and English people ; little 
do you imagine that the inhumane treatment of men every 



JOURNAL. 4t 



*^'ay as good as yourselves, are now reeorJing, and will in 
due time be disi)la\ed to your mortilicalioii. 

Our Kuilors, thoug;li half starved, confined and broken 
down by iiarsli treatment, always kept up tJ»e genuine 
Yankee cliaraeter, whieli is that of being grateful and 
tractable by kind usage, but stern, indexible and resentful 
at larsli treatment. One morning as the general and the 
caj)tain of the liegulus weie walking as usual on the quar- 
ter deck, one of our Yankee boys passed along the galley 
with l»is kid of burgoo, lie rtsled it on the edge of the 
iiatehway, while he was adjusting the rope ladder to de- 
scend with his swill. The ihiui? attracted the attention 
of the general, who asked the man, how niany of his coni- 
Tades eat of that ([uantity for their breakfast .- *' SLv^ 
<S'ti*," said the man, ** but it is fit fufjcl unly for h"^s.** 
This answer aflronted the captain, who asked the man, 
in an angry lone, '* u-liat part of^inicrica lie came from /'* 
" near to Bunkkk Hill, Sir — if you ever heard of that 
place." They looked at each other and smiled, turned 
about and continued their waik. This is what the Kn*-- 
lish call impudence. Give it what name you please, it is 
that something which will one day wrest the trident from 
the hands of Britannia and place it with those who have 
more humanity, if not more cultivated powers of ninid. 
There was a marine in the Ilegulus, who had been wound- 
ed on board the Shannon in the battle with the Chesa- 
j)eake, v. ho had a great antipathy to the Americans, and 
was continually casting reflections on the Americans gen- 
erally. He one day g(»t into a high dispute with oiie of 
our men, which ended in blows. This man had served 
on board the Constitulion, when she captured the Giierrier 
and afterwards the Java. After the two wranglers were 
lieparated, the marine complained to his officer, that ho 
had been abused by one of the American prisoners, audit 
reaching the captain's ears, he ordered the American om 
the quarter <leck, and in(juired into the cause of the (|uar- 
rel. When he had heard it all, he called the American 
sailor a d — d coward for striking a wounded man. *• I 
am no coward, Sir," said the high spirited Yankee; '• I 
was captain of a gun on board the Constitution when she 
captured the Guerriere, and afterwards when she took the 
Java. Had 1 been a cowaid I should not have been there.'* 
The captain called him an insolent scoundrel, and order- 

4* 



4^ JOURNAL. 

cd hlin to Ills li'jle again. What the British naval com- 
niaridiTs call ius(.leiice. is iia more llian ihe undaunted ex- 
pression oK their natural aiid Hahitual independence. 
AVhen a British sailor is called by his captain, in an angry 
tone, on to the quarter deck, he turns pale and trembles, like 
a thief before a country justice ; but not so the y\merican ; 
he, if he be innocent, speaks his mind with a firm tone ami 
steady countenance ; and if he feels himself ifisulted, he 
is not afraid to deal in sarcasm. In the instances just 
mentioned, Jonathan knen full well that the very name of 
JJuuher Hill, the Gnerricre And the Jar«, was a deep mor- 
tiGcation to John Bull. Actuated by this sort of feeling, 
the steady Romans shook the world. 

From this digression, let us return, and resnme our 
Joiirnal. We arrived oft' Portsmouth the fifth ol October, 
1S13 ; and were visited by the health officer and orderefl 
to the Mother-bank, opposite that place, where vessels 
ride out their quarantine. 'I'he next day the ship was fu- 
migated, and every exertion made by the officers to put h.er 
in a condition for inspection by the health-officer. Letters 
Mere fumigated by vinegar, or nitrous acid, before they were 
allowed to go out of the ship. Their attention was next 
turned to ns, miserable prisoners. We were ordered to 
-wash, and put on clean shirts. Being informed tliat many 
of us had not a second shiit to put on, the captain took 
dow n the names of such destitute men, but never supplied 
them with a single rag. 

The prisoners were now as anxious to go on shore, and 
to know the extent of their misery, as the captain of the 
Kegulns was to get rid of us. The most of ns, therefore, 
joined heartily in the task of cleansing the ship, and in 
white-washing the lower deck, or the place we occupied. 
Some, cither through laziness or resentinent, refused to do 
any thing about; but the rest of us said, that it was al- 
ways customary in America, when we left a house, or a 
room wo hired, to leave it clean, and it was ever deemed 
disreputable to leave an apariment dirty. The officers 
of the ship tried to make them, and began to threaten 
them, but they persisted in their refusal, and every at- 
tempt to force them was fruitless. 1 do not myself won- 
der that the British officers, so used to prompt and even 
servile obedience of their own men, were readv to knock 
gome of our obstinate, saucy fellows, on the head. This 



JOURNAL. 43 

Isrings to my mind the concise but just observation of au 
English traveller through the United States of America* 
After saying that the inliabitants south of the Hudson 
were a mixed race of English, Irisli, Scotch, Dutch, (ier- 
mans and Swedes, among whosn you could observe no pre- 
cise national character; he adds, '• but as to New-Eng- 
land, they are all true English, and there you see one uni- 
lorni trait of national manners, habits and disposition. 
The people are hardy, industrious, humane, obliging, ob- 
stinate and brave. By kind and courteous usage, mixed 
V, ith fiatterv, \ou can lead them like so mauv children al- 
most as you please ;" but^ he adds, " the Devil from h — t, 
wifhjire in one hand^ and fagg-ots in the other^ cannot drive 
them.^* Neither Ceesar, nor Tacitus ever drew a more true 
and concise character of the Gauls, or Germans, than this. 
Here is seen the transplanted Englishman, enjoying " In- 
dian freedom," and therefore a little wilder than in his 
native soil of Aibi'.m : and yet it is surprising that a peo- 
ple whose ancestors left England less than a century and 
a half ago, should be so little known to the present court 
and adininistralioii of threat Britain. Even the revolutioti- 
ary war was not sufficient to teach John Bull, that his de- 
seendaiUs had improved by transpiantation, in all those 
qualities for which stuffy John most values himself. The 
present race of Englishmen are puffed up and blinded by 
what they have been, while their descendants in America 
are proud of what tkey are, and what they know tkei/ shall 
be. 

After the ship liad been cleansed, fumigated and par- 
tially white washed, so as to be fit for the eye and nose of 
the health ofiiccr, slie was examined by him, and reported 
free from contas:lon J Now 1 conceive this line of con- 
duet not very reputable to the parties concerned. When 
we arrived off Portsmouth, our ship was filthy, and 1 be- 
lieve contagious; we miserable prisoners, were encrusted 
with the Hastiness common to sucli a place, as that into 
which we had bi^en inhumanly crowded. It was the duty 
of the health officers and the surgeon of the fieajulus, to 
have reported h^r condition wljen she first anchored, and 
not have cleaned her up, and altered her condition i'ov iii- 
gp'/!ion. In tlie A?ner!can service the captain, surgeon 
ai; health oificer would have all been casliiereJ for such 
a dereliction of honor and duty. This is the way that the 



44 JOURNAL 

British board of admiralty, tlie transport Iioartl, the pai*- 
liament au<l the people are deceived ; and this corruption, 
which more or less pervades the whole transport service, 
will enervate and debase their boasted navy. We cannot 
suppose tbat the Britisii board of admiralty, or the trans- 
port board would justify the cruel system of starvation 
practised oii the brave Americans who were taken in Can- 
ada and conveyed in tht ir floatins: dnnareons down the riv- 
er fet. Lawrence to Halifax. Some of these captains of 
transports deserve to be hans^ed for their barbarity to our 
men, and for the eternal hatred they have occasioned to- 
wards their own ijovernraent in the hearts of the surviv- 
mg Americans. We hope, for the honor of that country 
whence v.e derived our laws and sacred institutions, that 
this Jofjrnal will be read in Ena^land. 

The Roj^ulus was then removed to the anehorinf^ piace 
destined for men of war; and the same ni^dit, we were 
taken out, and put on board the Malabar store sbip, wliere 
we found one hundred and fifty of onr countrymen in her 
liold, with no other bed to sleep on but the stone ballast, 
iicre were two liunureu ana nity meri, emaciated by a sys- 
tem of starvation cooped up in a small space, with only 
S71 aperture of about two I'eet squars to admit the air, and 
Mith ballast stones for our beds ! Although in the !>ar- 
bor, we were not supplied with sufficient water to quench 
our thirst, nor with sufficient light to see our food, or each 
otlier, nor of sufficient air to breathe ; and what aggravat- 
ed the whole, was the stench of the place, owing to a di- 
arrhoea \^ith which several were affected. Our situation 
■was truly deplorable. Imagine to yourself, christian read- 
er ! two hundred and fifty men crammed into a plafe too 
small to contain one hundred with comfort, stifling for 
want of air, pushing and crowding each other, and exert- 
ing all their little remaining strength to push forward to 
the grated hateh-v.ay to respire a little fresh air. The 
strongest obtained their wish, while the weakest were 
]>ushed back, and sometimes trampled under foot. God 
of mercy, cried I, in my agony of distress, is this a sample 
oi'the English humanity we have heard and read so much 
of from our school boy years to manhood } If they are a, 
merciful nation, they belong to that class of nations 
" whose tender mercies are cruelty." 

Ropresentalions were repeatedly made to the captain 



JOURNAL. 45 

oTthe Malabar, of our distressed situation, as suffering 
extremely by lieat and stagnant air; for only two of us 
were allowed to come upon deck at a time ; but he answer- 
ed that lie had i^iven orders for our safe treatment, and 
safe keeping ; and he was determined not to lose his 
ship by too much lenity. In a word, we found the fel- 
low's heart to be as hard as ihe bed we slept on. Soon af- 
ter, however, our situation became so dangerous and 
alarming, that one of the marine corps informed the captain 
that if he wished to j»reserve us alive, he must speedily 
give us more air. If this did not move his compassion, it 
alarmed his fears ; and he then gave orders to remove 
ilie after hatch, and iron bars fixed in its place, in order 
to prevent us from forcing our way up, and throwing him 
into the sea, a pmiisluaent he richly deserved. This al- 
teration rendered the condition of our "' black' liole," more 
tolerable; it was nevertheless a very loathsome dungeon ; 
for our poor fellows were not allowed to go upon deck to 
relieve the calls of nature, but were compelle<l to appro- 
priate one part of our residence to this diity purpose. 
This, as may be supposed, rendered our^confiuemenl doubly 
disgusting, as well as unwholesome. 

1 do not recollect the name of the captain of the Mala- 
Inir, and it may be as well that 1 do not ; 1 only know that 
he was a Scolchman. It may be considered by some as 
illiberal to deal in national relleelions, I nevertheless can- 
not help remarking: that 1 have received more ill-treat- 
ment from men of that nation than from individuals oi'any 
(tther; aiid this is the general impression of my country- 
men. The poet tells us, that 

•' Cowards are cruel, but the brave 
" Love mercy, and delight to save." 

The Scotch are brave soldiers, but we, Americans, have 
found them to be the most hard hearted and cruel people 
we have ever vet met with. Our soldiers as well as sail- 
ors make the same coinplaint, insomucii that '• cruel as a 
Scotchman^'' has become a proverb in the ITnited States. 
The Scotch olHcers have been remarked for treating our 
officers, when in their power, with insolence, and expres- 
rions of contempt ; more so than the English It is said 
tliat a Scotch officer that sujjenntends the horrid whip- 
pinij;s so commun in British camps ia commoiilv observed 

4* 



46 JOURNAL. 

to be more Itard iiearled than an Enj^iish one. It is cer' 
tain tiiat they are generally preferred as negro-drivers \n 
the West India Inlands It lias been nniformlv remarked 
tliat those Scotchmen who are settled on tlie Canada 
frontiers were remarkable for their bitterness towards our 
men iu captivity. 

We speak liere of the vagrant Scotch, the fortune-hun- 
ters of the Caledonian tribe, at the same time we respect 
her pliilosophers and literary men, who appear to us to 
compose the first rank of writers. Without mentioning 
their Ossian, Thompson and Burns, we may enumerate 
their prose writers, such as Hume, and the present associ- 
ation of truly learned and acute men, who write the Edin- 
bur2:h Review. A Scotchman may be aHowed to show 
pride at the mention of this celebrated work. As it re- 
gards America, this northern constellation of talent, shines 
brightly in our eyes. The ancient Greeks, who once 
straggled about Rome and the Roman empire, were not 
lair specimens of the refined Athenians. 

Our peasantry, settled around our own frontier, and 
around the shores of our lakes, have a notion that the 
^Scotch Highlanders were, not long since, the same kind 
of wild, half naked people compared with the true Eng- 
lish, that the Choctaws, Cherokees, Pottoivatomies and 
JCickapoo Indians are to the common inhabitants of these 
United States : that less than an hundred years ago, 
these Scotchmen were in the habit of making the like 
scalping and tomahawking excursions upon the English 
farmer, that the North American savage makes upon the 
white people here. This is the idea which our common 
people have of what Walter Scott calls " the border wars ** 
Some of them will tell you that the Scotch go half naked 
in their own country, and wear a blanket, and kill their 
enemies with a knife just like Indians. They say their 
features differ from the English as much as theirs do from 
fhe Indian, In a word, to suppose the Scotch highlanders 
to be a race v, ho have been conquered by the English, who 
have tauglit them the use of fire arms, and civilized them 
in a degree to form themselves into regiments of soldiers, 
and this imperfect idea of the half savage Sawney will not 
soon be corrected; and we must say that the general eon- 
duct of this harsh and self-interested race towards oui: 
prisoners, will not expedite the period of correct ideas rei- 



alive to the comparative comlition of the Scotch and Eng- 
lish.. The Americans have imbibed uo prejudice against 
the Irish, having found them a brave, generous, jovial set 
of feliovvs, full of fun, and full of good kind feelings, the 
very antipoxles of Scotchmen, who, as it regards those 
qualities, are cold, rough and barren, like tiic land that 
gave them birth. 

We moved from Portsmouth to the More or Noah, for I 
kpow not the meaning of tlie word, or how to spell it. 
The place so called is the mouth of the river Thames, 
which runs through the capital of the British nation vV"e 
were three days on our passage. Here we were transfer- 
red to several tenders, to be transported lo Chatham. We 
soon entered the river Med way, which rises in Sussex, and 
passes by Tunbridge, Maidstone and Rochester, in Kent, 
and is then divided into two branches, called the east and 
west passage. The ciiief entrance is the west, and is de- 
fended by a considerable fort, called Sheerness. In this 
river lay a number of Russian men of war, detained here 
probably by way of pledge for tiie fidelity of the Emperor. 
What gives most celebrity to this river is Chatham^ a na- 
val station, where the English build and lay up their first 
rate men of war. It is but about thirty miles from Lon- 
don ; or the distance of Newport, Rhode Island, from the 
town of Providence, We passed up to where the prison 
ships lay. after dark. The prospect appeared very pleas- 
ant, as the prison ships appeared to lis illuminated. As 
we were all upon deck, we enjoyed the sight as we passed, 
and the commander of the tender appeared to partake of 
our pleasure. We were ordered on board the Crown 
Prince prison ship ; and as our names were called over, 
we were marched along the deck between two rows of 
emaciated Frenchmen, who had drawn themselves up to 
review us. We then passed on to that part of the ship 
which was occupied by the Americans, who testified their 
curiosity at knowing all about us, and sticking to their na- 
tional characteristic, put more questions to us in ten min- 
utes, than we could well answer in as many hours. We 
passed the evening and the first part of the night in mu- 
tual communications ; and we went to rest with more 
pleasure than for many a night before. 

Our prison ship was moored in what they called Gilling- 
ham reach. We would here remark, that the river, and 



4g JDIRKAL. 

Tliamcs. juul iMedNvay make, like all otl.er rivers near to 
Iheir outh'ls, nuiny timiini^s or beudings j some forming a 
more obtuse, ami' some a more aeute angle with their 
hanks. This course of the river compels a vessel \o stretch 
alonu: in one direction, and then to sti'eich along in a very 
ditr-rent direction. What the English call reaching, we 
in America call streU'hing. Each of these different courses 
of the river they call ''reaches.'* They have their long 
reach and tlieir short reach, and a number of reaches, un- 
der local, or less obvious names. Some are named after 
some of their own pirates, which is here and tliere designat- 
ed l>y a gibbet : a singular object, be sure, to greet the eye 
of astranger on entering the grand watery avenue of the 
capital of the British empire. But there is no room for dis- 
puting concerning our tastes. The reach where our prison 
Nvas njoored was about three miles below C liatham ; and 
is named from the village of Giliingham. Now whether 
reach or stretch be the most proper for an effort to sail 
against the wind, is left to be settled by those reverend 
monopolizers of all the arts and sciences, the London Re- 
>iewers; who, by the way, and we mention it pro bono 
publico, would very much increase their stock of knowl- 
edge and usefulness, if they would depute a few missiona- 
ries to puss and repass the Atlantic in a British transport, 
containing in its black hole an hundred or two of yankee 
j»risoners of war. It would, if they sliould be so fortunate 
as to survive the voyage, make them better judges of the 
character of the English nation, and of the American na- 
tion, and of that nearly lost tribe, the Caledonian nation. 
'J'here were thirteen prison ships beside our own, all 
ships of the line, and one hospital ship, moored near each 
other They were filled, principally, with Frenchmen, 
Danes and Italians. We found on our arrival twelve hun- 
dred \mericans. chiefly men who had been impressed on 
hoard British men of \>ar, and who had given themselves 
up, with a declaration that they would not fight against 
their own count rvmen, and they were sent here and confin- 
cd, without any distinction made between them and those 
who had been taken in arms. The injustice of the thins 
is glaiiiig. During the night, the prisoners were confined 
on (be lower deck and on the main deck ; but in the day 
time they were allowed the privilege of the '' pound," so 
called, uud the forc-castle^ which was a comforiable ar- 



• «^ 



JOURNAL. 49' 

racgement compared with the black holes of the Rec^nhis 
and Malabar. There were three ofiicers on board our 
ship, namely, a lieutenant, a sailing master, and a sur- 
geon, together with sixty marines and a few invalid, or 
superannuated seamen to go in the boats. The w hole was 
under the command of a commodore, while captain Hutch- 
inson, agent f.>r the prisoners of war, exercised a sort of 
eontroul over the whole ; but t!ie butts and bounds of their 
jurisdiction I never knew. The commodore visited each 
of the prison ships every month, to hear and redress com- 
plaints, and to correct abuses, and to enforce wholesome 
regiilatiotts. All written communications, and all inter- 
course by letter passed through the hands of capt. Hutcli- 
jnson. If the letters contained nothing of evil tendent-iy, 
they were suffered to pass ; but if they contained any thing 
which the agent deemed improper, they were detained. 
CJompIaints were sometimes made when thos* who wrote 
them thought thsy ought not. 

We found our situation maleriallv altered for the better. 
Our allowance of food was niJire consonant to humanity 
than at Halifax, much more to the villainous scheme ot' 
starvation on board the Regulus, and the still more exe- 
crable Malabar. Our allowance of food hera wtts half «/ 
pound of beef and a gill of barley, one pound and a half of 
bread, for five days in the week, and one pound of cod-fish, 
and one pound of potatoes, or one pound of smoked her- 
ring the other two days; and porter^and small beer were 
allowed to be sold to us. Boats with garden vegetables 
visited the ship daily, so that we now lived in clover com- 
pared with our former hard fare and cruel treatment. 
Upon the whole, I believe that we fared as well as could 
be expected, all things considered, and had such fare as 
we could do very well with ; not that we fared so well as 
UxQ British prisoners fare in America. Rich as the Eng- 
lish nation is, it cannot well afford to feed us as we feed 
the British prisoners; such is the diiference of the two 
countries in point of cheap food. On thanksgiving day, 
and on Christmas days, and such like holy days, we used 
to treat these Europeans with geese, turkies and plumb 
pudding. Many of these fellows declared that they never 
in their lives sat down to a table to a roasted turkey, or 
even a roasted goose. It is also a fact, that when the 
time approached fordrafting the British prisoners to send 



50 JOURNAL. 

to Halifax <o exchange tbem for our own mea, scTeral of 
the patriotic Englishmen, and many Irishmen, ran away, 
and when taken showed as much chagrin as our men 
would have felt, had they attempted to desert and run 
home from Halifax prison, and had been seized and 
brouj^ht back ! This is a curious fact, and worthy the at- 
tention of the British politician. Jin JimericarLi in Eng- 
land, pines to get home ; while an Englishman and an Irish^ 
man lungs to become an American citizen. Ye wise men 
of Engtand, the far famed England, the proud island 
Ai hence we originally sprang, ponder well this fact ; and 
confess that it will finally operate a great change in our 
respective countries, and that your thousand ships, your 
vast commerce, and your immense (factitious) riclies can- 
not alter it. This inclination, or disposition, growing up 
in the hearts of tliat class of your subjects who are more 
disposed to follow the bent of their natural appetites than 
to cultivate patriotic opinions, will one day hoist our •' bits 
of striped bunting" over those of your now predominant 
flag, and you, ion"' sighted pGliti.-^ii^v.s, see it as well as I 
do. '1 he hard fare of your sailors and sohllers, the 
scoundrclism of some of your officers, especially those con- 
cerned in your provision departments ; but above all your 
shocking cruel punishments in your navy and in your arniT/, 
Jjave lessened their attachment to their native country. 
England has, from the beginning, bliindered most \^retch- 
edly, for want of consulting the human heart, in |)refer- 
ence to musty parchments ; and the equally useless books 
on the law of nations. Believe me, ye great men of Eng- 
land, Scotland, Ireland and Berwick upon Tweed ! that 
one chapter from the Law of Human J\'*atiire^ is worth 
more than all your libraries on the law of nations Be- 
si?]e, gentlemen, your situation is a new one. No nation 
was ever so situated and circumstanced as you are, with 
regard to us, your descendants The history of nations 
does uot record its parallel. Why tben have recour.^e to 
books or maritime Ia\AS. or wrifle?i prc^ce'lents. In the 
code of the law of nations, you stand m need of an entirely 
J\*ew Chapter. We Americans, we despised Americans, 
are accumulating, as fast as we well can, the m^iejials 
foi llsat chapter Vonr government began to \M:ti. His 
eh >Mt('r in blood, and for two >rt!is y/aA we ey-operatid 
\M\\i you in the same way. Nothing stands still' within 



JOURNAL. 51 

i'ke great frame of nature. On every sublunary tiling mu- 
lability is written. Nothing? can arrest the destined 
course of republics an;i kino-doms. 

" Westward the course of empire takes its way." 

It is sino'uhir that wlsile the Eui^lishman and Irishman 
are disposed to abandon their native countries to dwell 
■with us in this new worM,the Scotchman has rarely sliowii 
that inclination. No — Sawney is loyal, arid talks as big 
of his king, and his countrt/, as would an English country 
squire, surrounded by his tenants, his liorses, and his dogs. 
It is singular that the Laplander, and the inhabitant of 
Icehvnd, are as much attached to their frightful countries, 
as tlie inhabitant of Italy, France or England ; and when 
avarice, and the thirst for a domineering command leads 
the Seotcliman out ofhis native rocks and barren hills, and 
treeless cour»try, he talks of it as a second paradise, and 
as the ancient E'[>;yptians longed after their onions and 
garlics, so these half dressed, raw-boned mountuineei's, 
talk in raptures of their country, of their bag-pipes, their 
singed sheep's head, and their '* haggiss." The only way 
that I can think of, by way of preventing the hearts hlood 
of Old England from being drained oft' in America, is to 
people Nova Scotia and Newfoundlatid witli Scotc!imen, 
where they can raise a few sheep for singeing atid for 
ha^gisa ; and where they can wear their Gothic habit and 
be indulged in the luxury of the bag-pipe, enjoy over again 
their native fogs, and howling storms, and think them- 
selves at home. Nature seems to have fixed the great ar- 
ticles of food in Nova Scotia to fish and potatoes; this 
last article is of excellent quality in that courjtry. Then 
! let these strangers, tliese hosti'S^ these antipodes to the 
Americans, man the Britisli fleet, and till up the ranks of 
their armies, and mutual anlipjitljy will prevent the dread- 
ed coalition. 

But I hasten to return from these people to my prison 
shij). Among other conveniences, we had a sort of a shed 
erected over the hatch-wav, on which to air our ham- 
mocKs. This was grateful to us all, especially to those 
whose learning had taiio-ht them the salntiferons effects of 
a free circulation of tiie vital air. It is surpri-iiug, that 
after what the Englisli philosophers have written concern- 
iijg tiie properties of the atmospheric air 5 after what 



Jh2 JOURNAL. 

BotIc, Mavhew, Hales and Priestley have writfeii on tliis 
subject ; ami after nhnt the^y have learnt from the history 
of the Calcufta black- hu!e /snul after what Howard has 
tau^lit tliem conccTuiuii; prisons and hoi-pitals, il is sur- 
prisiiic; tlial in i«i3, the commanders ofsliips in the Eng- 
lish service, sJiould be allowed to thrust a crowd of jnea 
into tiiose hideous black- holes, situated in the bottom of 
their siiips. far below the suiface of the water. 1 have 
sometimes pleased myself with the hope that what is here 
written may contribute to the al)oIition of a practice so 
disj^raceful to a nation ; a nation which has the honor of 
first teaching mankind the true properties of the air ; and 
of the philosophy of the healthy construction of prisons 
and hospitals ; and one would suppose of healthy and con«» 
▼enient ships, for the prisoner as well as for their own 
seamen. 

Our situation, in the day time, was not unpleasant for 
prisoners fif war. Confinement is disagreeable to all men, 
and very irksome to us, yankees, who have rioted, as it 
were, from our infancy, in a sort of Indian freedom. Our 
situation was tlie most nnpleasant during the night. It 
was the practice, every night at sun-set, to count the pris- 
oners as they went down below; and then the hateh-^ays 
are all barred down and locked, and the ladder of comrau- 
nicalion drawn up ; and every other precaution that fear 
inspires adopted, to prevent otir escape, or our rising upon 
our prison keepers ; for they never had half the apprehen- 
sion of the French as of the Americans. They said the 
French were always busy in some little mechanical em- 
j)!oY, or in gaming, or in playing the fool ; but that the 
Americans seemed to be on the rack of invention to escape, 
or to elude some of the least agreeable of their regulations. 
in a uord. they cared but little for the Frenchmen ; but 
were in constant dread of the increasing' contrivance, and 
persevering eiforts of us Americans They had built 
around the sides of the sliip, and little above the surface 
of the water, a stage, or flooring, on which the sentries 
walked during the whole night, singing out, every half 
hour, '• all's icelL^^ Beside these sentries marching 
around the ship, they had a floating-guard in boats, row- 
ing around all the ships, during the live long night. 
AVhenever these boats rowed past a sentinel, it was his 
doty to challenge them;, and theirs to answer 5 and tlm 



JOURNAL. 5 a 

was (lone to ascertain MJiether tlioy were FreneTi or 
American boats, come to surprhie^ uikI carry by bourdinr^, 
the Crown Prince ! W'e used to l.iui^h atnonc^ onrselvt? at 
this ridiifulous precaution. U must be remembered, that 
Ave were then up a small river, within tiiirty-two miles of 
London, and three. th-iU>iiiiid miles fro«n our own eoinlrv. 
However,'* a burnt child dreads t'je lire," and an Ens: lis!]- 
man's fears rnay tell him, that what once happened, maj 
liiippen aii^ain. About one hundre<l and lifty yeurs aj^o, 
viz. in 1607, tlie Dutcli sent one of their admirals up 
tl'e nver IVledwav, three miles above where we now lav, 
and sino'C?! t!:e beard oi' J- >/in Bull. He Iius never entiieiv 
«ot over that frjght, but turns pah? au'd trembles ever 
-ftince, at the sight, or name of a republican. 



CHAPTER III. 

Our prison-ship contained a pretty well organized eosn- 
munitv. We were allowed to establis'; anians: ourselves ail 
internal police for our own comfort an<l seir-'^overnmenl. 
And here we adhered to the forms of our own adoied con- 
.stitution ; for in place of raakinc; a King, Dukes and 
Lords, we elected a President ant) twelve Counsellors, 
w ho, having executive as well lea^islative powers, we called 
Committee men. But instead of four vears, thev were to 
liold their oJ!ices but four weeks : at the eud of w liich a new 
set were chosen, by the a'cneral votes of ail the prisoners. 

it was the duty of the president and his twelve counsel- 
lors, to make wiiolesome laws, and define crimes, and 
award punishm?nts. We made laws and rci^ulations res- 
pectini?; personal behavior, and personal cleanliness, which 
last we enforced with particular care; for we had some 
lazy, lifeless, dirty fellows amonj^ us, tiint required at- 
tending; to lirlte children. 'J'hey were like ho2;s. wliose 
delic^ht it is to eat, sleep and wallow in the dirt, and never 
work. We had, how ever, but very few of this low cast ; 
and they were, in a great measure, pressed down bj some 
chronical disorder. It was the duty of tlie presldej»t and 
the twelve committee men, or common councij; to define, 

5 



5^ JOURNAL. 

precisely, every act piniishable by fine, \vln*pj)ing, or cou- 
iiiiement in tlie black hole. 1 opposed, uitli ail my might, 
tliis last mode of punishment as nnequal, inhuman, and 
dis2;raeeful to our national character. 1 contended that 
Ave, wlio had sutlered so much, and complained so loud of 
Ihe black hole of the Regulus, Malabar, and other floating' 
♦ lunp^eons, should reject, from an humane principle, this 
horrid mode of torment. 1 urged, as a medical man, that 
ihe punishment of a confined black hole, was a very une- 
qual mode of punishment; for that some men of \^eak 
lungs and debilitated habit, might die under the effects of 
that which another man could bear without much distress* 
I maintained that it was wicked, a sin against human na- 
ture, to take a well man, put him in a place that should 
destroy his health, and, very possibly, shorten his days, 
by engrafting on him some incurable disorder. Some, on 
the other side, urged, tha< as we were in the power of the 
British, we should not be uncivil to them ; and that our 
rejection of the punishment of the black hole might be 
construed into a reflection on the English government ; so 
ue suftered it to remain in terrorem, with a strong recom- 
mendation not to have recourse to it, but in very extraor- 
dinary cases. This dispute plunged me deep into the phi- 
losophy of crimes and punishments; and I am convinced, 
on mature reflection, that we, in America, are as much too 
mild in our civil punishments, as the British are too se- 
vere. By what I have heard, I have inferred, that the 
}iollanders have drawn a just line between both. 

We used to have our stated as well as occasional courts. 
Beside a bench of judges, we had our orators, and ex- 
jjounders of our laws. It was amusing and interesting to 
see a sailor, in his round short jacket, addressing the com- 
mittee, or bench of judges, with a phiz as serious, and 
with lies as specious as any of our common lawyers in Mas- 
.sachusetts. They would argue, turn and twist, evade, re- 
treat, back out, renew the attack, and dispute every inch 
of the ground, or rather the deck, with an address that 
astonished me. The surgeon of the ship said tome, one 
day> after listening to some of our native salt water plead- 
ers, '• these countrymen of yours are the most extraordi- 
nary men 1 ever met with. While you have such fellows 
as those, your country will never lose its liberty.'* 1 re- 
plied; that this turn for legislation arose from our being 



JOURNAL. 3S 

all tauglit fo read and write. " That, alone, did not give 
them.-' said he, ** this acuteness of understanding, and 
promptness of speech, it arises," said he, with great 
justness, '•" from fearless liberty.'* 

1 have already mentioned that we had Frenehraen in 
this prison-ship. Instead of occupying themselves willt 
forming a constitution, and making a code of laws, and 
defining crimes, and adjusting punishments, and holding 
courts, and pleading for, and against the person arraign- 
ed, these Frenchmen had erected billiard tables, and roit'- 
letts, or wheels of fortune, not merely for their own 
amusement, but to allure the Americans to hazard their 
money, which these Frenchmen seldom failed to win. 

These Frenchmen exhibited a considerable portion of 
ingenuity, industry and patience, in their little manufac- 
tories of bone, of straw, and of hair. They would work 
incessantly, to get money, by selling these triHing 
"wares; but many of them had a much more expeditious 
method of acquiring cash, and that was by gaming at tho 
billiard tables, and the wheels of fortune. Their skill and 
address at these apparent games of hazard were far supe- 
rior to the Americans. They seemed calculated for 
gamesters ; their vivacity, their readiness, and their ever- 
lasting professions of friendsliip, were nicely adapted to 
inspire confidence in the unsuspecting American Jack Tar, 
who has no legerdemain about him. Most of the prisoners 
Avere in the way of earning a little money; but almost aU 
of them were deprived of it by the French gamesters. Our 
people stood no chance with them, but were commonly 
stripped of every cent, whenever they set out seriously to 
play with them. How often have I seen a Frenchman ca- 
pering, and singing, and grinning, in consequence of his 
stripping one of our sailors of all his money; while our 
solemn Jack Tar was either scratching his head, or trying 
to whistle, or else walking slowly off, with both hands 
stuck in his pocket, and looking like John Bull, after con- 
cluding a treaty of peace with Louis Baboon. 

I admire the French, and wish their nation to possess 
and enjoy peace, liberty and happiness ; but 1 cannot say 
that 1 love these French prisoners. Beside common sail- 
ors, there are several officers of the rank of captains, lieu- 
tenants, and, I believe, midshipmen ; and it is these that 
are the most adroit gamesters. >Ve have all tried hard to 



5ij jouhnal. 



r'j^jjnu't tliem ; but there is sometliins* i" their coiidact ?«' 
luticli like sv.indliiis. that 1 hardly know what to say of 
thciu. U heii they knew that we had received money for 
llie work we had been allowed la perform, they were very 
jitlenlive, and complaisant, and flattering. Some hud 
heeii. or jjrelended to have heeu, in America. They wouhl 
c;.me round and say, ah ! Boston fine town, very pretly— 
Cape e od line toun, very fine. Town of Rhode Island ^u- 
j.L'iu. Bristol ftrry veiy pretty. General Washino-ioa 
Ires 2;raHd homme ! General Madison brave homme ! With 
these expre:jsions and broken En2;lish, they would aecom- 
j»any, with tlieir monkey tricks, capering and grinning, 
and'palting us on tlie sfsouldcr, with, the Americans are 
leave mei» — figlit like Frenchmen 5 and by their insinuat- 
ing manners, allure our men once more to their wheels of 
i"ui(ane and hilliard-tables, and as sure as they did, so sure 
did they strip (hem of all their money. I must either say 
nothing of these Frencljmen, oificers and all, or else I 
must ^peak as I f;!und them. 1 hope they were not a just 
ftamj)le oC their whole nation ; for these gentry Mould ex- 
rrcise every imposition, and even insinuate the thing that 
is not, the more easily to plunder us of our hard earned 
jiillance oC small change. Had they shown any generosi- 
ly like the British tar, I should have passed over their 
conduct in silence ; but after they had stripped our men of 
rser> furihing, they would say to them — " Monsieur, yofi 
Jiave wen all our money, now lend us a little cl)ange to 
get us some coflee and sugar, ^nd we v>i!l pay you uheu 
>ve shall earn more." '' Ah, Mon Ami," says Monsieur, 
sljritgging up his shoulders, " 1 am sorry, very sorry, in- 
deed ; it is le fortune du guerre. If you have lost your 
:iji>n('v. \ou miisl win it back as^ain ; that is the fashion in 
my ctiumry — we no lend, that is not the fashion." 1 have 
«i!jser\ed I hat these Fienehmcn are fdtcdists. Good luck, 
«ir ill luck is all fate with them. So of their national mis- 
fortuhcs ; they shrug up their shoulders, and ascribe all 
to the inevitahle decrees of fate. 'I'his is very different 
irom the Americans, who ascril)e every thing to prudence 
<»r imprudence, strength or weakness. Our men say, that 

• r the game was wrestling, playing at ball, or foot-ball, 

• r firinn- al a nrark, or rowing, or running a race, they 
"liould be on fair ground w ith them. Our fellows ofVred 
lo institute this game with tlicm: there should be a strong 



JOURNAL. 37 

canvass baj^, with two pieces of cord four feet long ; iLe 
contest should be, for one man to put the other in the bag, 
with tl»e liberty of first tying his haads, or his feet, or both 
if he chose. liere would be a contest of strength and 
hardihood, but not of cunning or legerdemain. But the 
Frenchmen all united in saying, " No, it was not the fash- 
ion in their country to tie gentlemen up in sacks." 

There were here some Danes as well as Dutchmen. It is 
curious to observe their different looks and manners, 
which I can hardly believe to be owing, entirely, to the 
manner of bringing up. Here we see the thick skulled 
plodding Dane, making a wooden dish; or else some of 
the most ingenious making a clumsy ship: while others 
submitted to the dirtiest drudgery of the hulk, for money? 
and there we see a Dutchman, picking to pieces tarred 
ropes, which, when reduced to its original form of liemp, 
they call oakum ; or else you see him lazily stowed away 
in some corner, with his pipe, surrounded with smoke, and 
" steeping his senses in forgetfiilness ;'' while here and 
there, and every where, you find a lively singing French- 
man, working in hair ; or carving out of a l)one, a lady, a 
monkey, or the central figure of the crucifixion I Among 
the specimens of American ingenuity, I most admired 
their ships, which they built from three to five feet long. 
Some of them were said, l)y the navy-officers, to be perfect 
as regarded proportion, and exact, as it regarded the min- 
iature representation of a merchantman, or sloop of war. 
By the specimens of ingenuity of these people of different 
nations, you could discover their respective ruling pas- 
sions. 

Had not the French proved themselves to be a very 
brave people, I should have doubted it, by what I observ- 
ed of them on board the prison-ship. They would scold, 
quarrel and fight, by slapping each other's chops with the 
ilat hand, and cry like so many girls. I have often thought 
tliat one of our yankees, with his iron fist, could, by one 
blow, send monsieur into his nonentity. Perhaps such a 
man as Napoleon Bonaparte, could make any nation cour- 
ageous ; but there is some difference between courage and 
bravery. 1 have been amused, amid captivity, on observ- 
ing the volatile Frenchman singing, dancing, fencing, 
grinning and gambling, while the American tar lifts his 
hardy Ij'ont and weather beaten countenance^ despising 

5* 



58 JOURNAL, 

t!;cm all, but the dupe of llicm ; Just about as much dis- 
jiostd lo sqimndiT his money uiijoiia; s;'nU aud fiddiers, as 
I be F.ne,li*h siiilor ; but never so in love with it, as to study 
iLc ails and lce;crilcmain to obtain it. 1 have, at times, 
»ondored tliat the hard fisted yankee did not revenge im- 
i.ONitions on ihe skulls ot* some of these blue-skinned sons 
t,!"llic old continent. Is there ^iot a country, where there 
is one scries or cliain of impositions, from the Pope down- 
Mards.- There is uo such thini^ in the United States. 
That is a country of laws ; and tlieir very sailors are all 
full of rights and wrongs; of justice and injustice ; and of 
tlcfminc; crimes, and ascertaining the butts and bounds of 
li-tional and individual ris^lits. 

It was a pleasant circumstance, that T could, now and 
then obtain some cntertainini^ books. 1 had read most of 
J)eun SiC'ifl's works, but hud never met with his celebrat- 
ed allej^orv of Julin Dull, until 1 found it on hoard this 
j)rison-ship. 1 read this little work with more de]i2;lit 
tlian 1 can express. 1 haii always heard the En2;lish iia- 
lion, includinn: kins;, lords, comjnons, country squires, and. 
im-rchants, called *' J'jhn Bull,'' but 1 never before knew 
liiat the name ori2;inated from this piece of wit of Dean 
•Swift's. Now 1 learnt, for the first time, that the JLng^lish 
Jkinp;, court and nation, taken collectively, were character- 
ized under the name uf^ John Ball ; and that of France iin- 
i.'tT the name oi' Louis Baboon; and that of the Dutch of 
.N'7c/i: /'Vo^ ; and that of Spain under Lord Sir ul ; tliat. 
ihe church of Knj^Iand was called John's Mother ; the par- 
Jiamcnt his wife; and Scotland his pour ill-treated, raw- 
honed, nianiiv «S75/er Te^j:* While 1 was shakiiia: mv ?:dcs 
at ihc comical characteristical painting of the w itty Dean 
of St. Patrick, the Frtjnchmen would come around me to 
know what the book coiitained, which so much tickled niv 
fancy ; they thouui^ht it was an obscene hook, and wished 
>ome one to translate it to them : but all thev could 2:et out 
of me was the w ord '• John Bull and Louis Baboon P^ 

It is now tlie Snth of November, a month celebrated to 
a provpri. in England, for its gloominess. We have had 
ii troubled «»ky and fo£»:gy for several weeks past. The 
jdeasant prosiu-ci of the surrounding shores has been ob- 
scured a great portion of this monlh. The countenances 
i.f our companions partake of otir disnial atmos]diere. It 
h:.« cvcu bobcred our Frcneliaien : they do not slug and 



JOURNAL. 69 



caper a^ asual ; nor do they swing tlieir arms aLout, and 
talk with stronsj emphasis of every tri3e. Vhe tiiouo-hts 
oFhoiTie obtrude upon us; and we feel as the poor Jews 
felt on the banks of the Euphrates, when their task-mast- 
ers and prison-keepers insisted on their sini^ins^ a song, 
Vv'e all hung up our fiddles, as the Jews did tlieir harps, 
and sat about, here and there, like barn-door fowls, wheiii 
molting. 

Our captivity on the banks of the river Medway^ bor- 
dered with willows, brought to my mind the plaintive song 
of the children of Israel, in captivity on the banks of the- 
river Euphrates^ which psalm, among others, I used to. 
sins: with mv njother and sisters, on Sunday evenin-vs, 
when an innocent boy, and long before the vvild notion of 
rambling, from a comfortable and plentiful home, came 
into my head. It is the 137th Fsalm, Tate and Brady^s^ 



versioa. 



Wtien we our weary limbs to rest 

S'at down by proud Euphrates' stream^ 
We wept, with doleful thoughts oppres:. 
And Salcni was our mouruiul theme. 

Gur harps, that, when with joy we sung, 
Were wont their tuneful parts to bearj 
With silent strings, neglected hung. 
On willow-trees, that wither'd there. 

Meanwhile our foes, who all conspir'd 
To triumph in our slavish wrongs, 

Music and mirth of us requir'd, 

" Come sing us one of Zion's songs." 

How shall we tune our voice to sing ? 

Or touch our harps with skilful hands ? • 
Shall hymns of joy to God, our King, 
Be sung by slaves in foreign lands ? 

G.Salem! Our once happy seat ! 

When I of thee forgetful prove, 
Let then my trembling hand forget 

Tne speaking strings with art to mOve 1 

Jf I, to mention thee, forbear, 
Eternal silence seize my tongue ! 

Or. if I sing one cheerful air, 
Tiii my dc'iv'rancc is itiy song. 



r, ■) JOURNAL. 



CHAPTER IX. 

1 COME now to a delicate subject : and shall speak 
accorilii!;^ly. \\itli due caution; 1 mean the character and 
conduct ofJ/r. Beatili/, the American Agent for prisoners. 
He resides in the city of London, thiriy-two niiieg from 
this place. There have been loud and constant complaints 
made of Ins conduct towards his countrymen suft'ering con- 
finement at three thousand miles distance from all they 
hold most dear and valuable, and he but half a day's jour- 
ney from us. Mr. Beasly knew that there were some 
thousands of his countrymen imprisoned in a foreign land 
for no crime, but for defending and fighting under the 
American flag, that emblem of national independence, and 
sovereignity ; if he reflected at all he must have known 
liiese countrymen of his were in general, thinking men; 
men who had homes, and " fire places. '* He knew they 
liad, some of them, fathers and mothers, wives and chil- 
dren, brothers and sisters in the United States, who lived 
in houses that had '•* jive jAaces^^' and that they had, in 
general been brought up in more ease and plenty than the 
same class in England ; he knew they were a people of 
strong affections to their relatives, and strong attachments 
to their country ; and he might have supposed that some 
of them had as good an education as himself; he must, 
or ought to have thonght constantly that they were suf- 
fering imprisonment, deprivations and occasionally sick- 
ness in a foreign country, where he is specially commis- 
sioned and placed to attend to their comfort, relieve, if 
practicable their wants, and (o be the channel of commu- 
iiiralion between them and their families. The British 
commander, or Commodore of all the prison ships in this 
river visited them all once a month, and paid good atten- 
tion to all their wants. 

\\ hen we first arrived here, we wrote in a respectful 
8t>le to Mr. Beasly, as the Agent from our government for 
the prisoners in England. SVe glanced at' our sufferings 
at Halifax ; and staled our extreme sufferings on the pas- 
sage to Knglaud, and until we arrived in the river Med- 
>vay. We remarked that we expected that the govern- 
nu-ni of the United States intended to treat her citizens in 
ciiptivity m a foreign land all enually alike. Wc repre- 






JOURNAL, 6ii 

senled to hiai tliat we were, in general destitute of cloath- 
ing', and many coiivenieiii'es, that a trifling suni of money 
Would obtain ; that we did not dou'jt the good will, and 
honorable intentions of our government ; and that he dowht- 
iess knew of their kind intentions towards us all. — But he 
never returned a word of an sic er. We found that all those 
prisoners, who Iiad been conHned here at Chatham from 
the commencement of the war bore Mr. Beasiy an inveter- 
ate hatred. They accuse him of an unfeeling neglect, and 
disregard to tlieir pressing wants. They say he never 
Tisited them but once, and that then his conduct gave more 
disgust than his visit gave pleasure. Where there is 
much smoke there must i)e some fire. The account thev 
gave is this — that when he came on board, he seemed fear- 
f-il that they would come too near him, he therefore request- 
ed that additional sentries might be placed on the gan 
ways, to keep the prisoners from coming aft on the quar 
ter deck He then sent for one of their nuini)er, said a few 
words to him relative to the prisoners 5 but not a word of 
information in answer to the questions repeatedly put to 
liim : and of which we were all very anxious to hear. He 
acted as if he was afraid that an> questions should be put 
to him; so that without waiting to hear a single complaint, 
and without waiting to examine into any thing respecting, 
tlieir situation, their health, or their wants, he hastily took 
Ins departure, amidst the hooting and hisses of his coun- 
trymen, as he passed over the side of the ship. 

Written representations of the neglect of this nominal 
agent for us prisoners were made to the government of the 
United States, which we sent by diiierent conveyances ; 
but whetlier they ever reached the person of the Sfcretary 
we never knew. Several individuals among the prisoners 
wrote to Mr. Beasiy for information on subjects in whicli 
tl'.eir comfort and hap|)iness were concerned, but received 
no answer. Onee indeed a letter was received from his 
clerk in an imperious style, announcing that no notice would 
he taken of any letters from individuals, (whicli was pro- 
ba))ly correct) but tho.se only that were written by the 
comniittee collectively. The Committee accordinirlv wrote, 
hut their letter was treated with the same silent neglect. 
This desertion of liis countrymen in their utmost need, ex- 
cited an universal expression of disgust if not resentment. 
Cut oS'froin their own country, surrounded only by ene- 



6.3 



JOURNAL. 



nil 



....es, swindled by their neiglibours, winter coming on, and 
iio c'lolhiiic; proper for tlie approaching season, and the 
AmtTiean \x-e\iX for tliemselves and other prisoners, with- 
in three or i^)iir liours journey, and yet abandoned by him 
lo ihe tender mercies of our declared enemies, it is no won- 
der tliat our prisoners detested, at length, the name of 
lU-asly. \N e made every possible allowance for this gen- 
tiemiili : we said to each other he may have no funds ; he 
may have the will but not liie power to help us; his com- 
mission, and his directions may not extend so high as our 
(xpeetations ; still we could make no excuse for his 
jiot visiting us, and enquiring, and seeing for himself our 
real sil nation. He might have answered our letters, and 
encouraged us not to despair but to hope for relief; he 
might have visited us as often as did the English Commo- 
thtie, which was once in four weeks; but lie should not 
liavc insulted our ieelings, the only time he did visit us, 
and huni!/le apd mortifv us in the view of the Frenchmen, 
\> ho saw, and remarked that our agent considered us no 
more than so many hogs. The Emperor Napoleon has 
visited *»ome of his hospUals in cog. has viewed the situa- 
tion of the sick and wounded, examined their food and 
eaten oT iheir bread, and once threw a cup of wine in the 
face of a steward, because he thought it not good enough 
for the jjoldier; but — some of our agents are men of more 
coii'i*(iuenee, in their own eyes, than Napoleon ! 

During the war it was stated to our government that 
siv thuusimd two fiundred and fifty -seven seamen had been 
pressed and forcibly detained on board British ships of 
war. Events have proved the correctness of this state- 
ment ; and this slavery has been a subject of merriment, 
and a theme for ridicule among the federalists. They say 
it initkcs no more difference to a sailor what ship he is on 
hoard than it does to a hog what stye he is in (Jthers not 
♦piile so brutal, have said — hush I it may be so; but we 
luuKt bear it ; England is mistress of the Ocean ; and her 
existence depends on this practice of impressment ; her 
naval power must be submitted to — give us merchants 
commerce, and these Jack tars will take care of theni- 
Behcs ; for it is not worth while to loose a profitable trade 
for l!ic sake of a few ignorant sailors, who never had any 
ri-l.t'*, and who have neithei liberty, property or homes, 
but \\]k\{ we merchants give to them! 



JOURNAL. d3 



Tlic American seamen on board the Crown Prince, were 
cTneHy men who had been impressed into the British JWvij 
previous to the war ; but wiio, on hearin^^ of the Decla- 
ration of war against Great Britain by the people of the 
United States, gate themseh^es up as prisoners of war; 
but instead of being directly exchanged, the English Gov- 
ernment thought it proper to send them on board these 
prison sliips to be retained there during the war, evidently 
to prevent them from entering into our own navy. It should 
he remembered that thev were all citizens of the United 
States sailing in merchant ships ; and yet the merchants, 
at least those of Boston, and the other New-England sea- 
ports, have very generally mocked the complaints of im- 
pressed seamen, and derided their representations, and 
have even denied the story of their impressment. Even 
the Governor of Massachusetts (Strong) has affected in his 
public speeches to the Legislature to represent this crying 
outrage, as the mere groundless clamor of a party oppos- 
ed to his election ! VVliether groundless or not, I will 
venture to assert that the names of many of the leading 
federalists in Massachusetts, and a few otiiers will never 
be forgotten by the inhabitants of the prison ships at Chat- 
ham, at Halifax, and in the West Indies. 

We are now at peace, and the tide of party has so far 
slackened, that we can tell the truth without the suspicion 
of political, or party designs. I shall relatvi ojily what I 
have collected from the men themselves, who were never 
in the way of reading oiir newspapers, or of hearing of the 
speeches of the friends of the British in Congress, or in 
our State Legislatures. — I think 1 ought however, here to 
premise, that my family were of that party in Massachu- 
setts called Federal ; that is, we voted for Governor Strong, 
and federal Senators and Representatives ; our Clergyman 
v/as also federal and preached and prayed federally, and 
we read none but Tederal newspapers, and associated with 
none but federalists : of course we believed all that Gover- 
nor Strong; said, and approved all that our Senators and 
Representatives voted, and believed all that was printed 
in the Boston federal papers. The whole family, and my- 
self with them, believed all that Colonel Timothy Picker- 
ing had written about impressment of seamen, and about 
the weakness and wick'^dness of the President and admin- 
istration ,: w<i believed them all to be under the pay ar.d 



atf> JOURNAL 

inflnenco of 00:3.111:11*10, ulio wc knew was tlie first Lleii- 
li'Munt of Satan. We bclitved all tlift was said about 
•• Free trade and snil:jrs- r/-7//s,'' was all stuft'aiid nonsense, 
broii^lil forward Ijy the Republicans, whom we called De- 
mocrats and Jacobins to gull the people out of their liber- 
ty HUil properly, in order to surrender both to the Tyrant 
o'f France. W'e believed entirely that the war Mas unne- 
cessary and wicked, and d.echired with no other desii^n hut 
to iiijiiVe KriL;land ami i;Tatif\ France. We believed also 
that t!ie whole of ihe adinitiistration, and every man of the 
Kepuidican party, from JeiTerson and .Madison, down to 
our — was either fool or knave. If we did not believe tliat 
every republican was a sc«)undrel, we were sure and cer- 
tain tiiat every scoundrel was a republican. In some 
points our belief v. as as stronp; and as fixed as any in the 
papal dominions ; for example — we maintained stiffly tl.at 
Governor t^troni2j. Lieut. Gov. Phillips, H. (t. Otis, and 
.Toltii LoMcll and Francis Blake, Esqrs. were, for talents, 
kiiowU'dpiC, piety and virtue, the ^ery first men in the 
United J5late«, and ou:^ht to be at the head of the nation ; 
or — to express it alt in one word, as my sister once did, 
*' F('deraHsm is ihe jmlitics of a geiitleman^ and of a iadu, 
hut Hepuhlicanium i^ the luic cant of the vulvar ;'* of such 
men as your Tom Jetlcrsons, Jim Madisons, and Joliii 
Ad.jnis*, and (. ol. Monroe's. 

\\'ith tliese expanded and enlii^htened ideas of men and 
lhi?:gs, did I, Feri^rinus ^hnericanus^ quit my fafher*s 
iiouse of ease and plenty, to make a short trip in a Priva- 
teer, mf)rc for a frolic than for any thins: serious, beins: 
very little concerned whether 1 was taken or not. ])rovided 
my caiiture would be the mean!^ of carryins: me amona: the 
jicople who 1 had lon^ adored for their superior bravery, 
ina'j,uauimity, relii;ion. knowledpje, and justice; which 
opiuiiins 1 had imbilied from their own VAriters, in ve^se 
and prose fieside the federal newspapers, 1 had dipped 
into the postliumous works of Fisher Ames, enono*)' to in- 
«pire uje with adoration of Eniiijland, abhorrence of France, 
ntid a contempt for my own country ; or to express ^t all 
in .fewer words, I was a Federalist of ihe Boston stnmp-^ 
TIicHP are the outlines of my pj eco-iceived opinions, w Mcli 
I ciirricil wiih me into Melville Prison, at Halifax. I 
M»H not the only one by many, who entered that abode of 
misery with similar iiolions. * How often have 1 wished 



JOURNAL. 65 

fhat Governor Sfrou"?, and bis principal supporters, were 
herf witli us, learnini^ wisdom, and acquirinji; just notions 
of nseu, tliino'S and governments. 

But to return from the Governor and Council, and other 
2;reat men of Massachusetts, to the British prison ship at 
Chatiiam — The British liad been in the habit of pressing 
Die sailors from our merchant ships, ever since tlie year 
i7'55. The practice was always abhorred, and often re- 
sisted, and sometimes even unto death. We naturally in- 
ferred that, with our independence, we should preserve 
the persons of our citizens from violence and deep dis- 
grace ;'for, to an American, a wliipping is a degradation 
worse than death. Since the termination of the war with 
England, which guaranteed our independence, the British 
never pretended to impress American citizens ; but pre- 
tended to the riglit of entering our vessels, and taking from 
them the natives of Britain or Ireland, and this was their 
general rule of conduct ; — they would forcibly board our 
vessels, and the boarding-officer, who was commonly a 
lieutenant, completely armed with sword, dirk, and load- 
ed pistols, would muster the crew, and examine the per- 
sons of the sailors, as a planter examines a lot of negroes 
exposed for sale ; and all the thin, puny? or sickly men, 
he allowed to be Americans — .but all the stout, hcartv, 
red cheeked, iron fisted, crispy haired fellows, were de- 
clared to be British ; and if such men showed their cer- 
tificates of citizenship and place of birth, they were pro- 
nounced forgeries, and the unfortunate men were dragged 
over the side into the boat, and forced on board his float- 
ing prison. Not a day in the year, but there occurerd 
such a scene as this ; and to our shame be it spoken, we 
endured this outrage on man through the administration 
of Washington, Adams and JeS'erson, before we declared 
war, to revenge the villany. If an high spirited man, 
thus kidnap'd, refused to work, he was first deprived of 
victuals ; and if starvation did not induce him to work, he 
was stripped, and tied up, and whipped like a thief! — and 
many a noble spirited fellow suftered this accursed pun- 
ishment. If he seized the first opportunity, as he ought, 
to run away from his tyrants, and was taken, he was se- 
verely whipped ; and for a second attempt the punishment 
was doubled, and for a third, he was hanged, or shot. 

It happened on our deciaratiou of war, chiefly on accouDt 

6 



66 JOURNAL. 



of this atrocious treatment of tlic sailors, that tliousaiuls of 
our couiitrviiieii liad been imr)resse<l into lIieBriiish naw and 
more or less \vere found in almost every sliip ; most of these 
informed their respective captains, that beinj^ American cit- 
izens, they could not remain in tlie service of a nation, to 
aid tliem in killing their brethren, and in pullin[>; down the 
flag of their native country. They declared, hrmly. that 
it was fighting against nature for a man to fio-hl against 
liis native land, the only land to which he owed a niUural 
duty. Some noble British commanders admired tlieir pat- 
riotic spirit, and permitted them to quit their ships and go 
to prison ; while other captains, of an opposite and igno- 
hle character, refused to hear tlieir declarations, and oi-- 
dered them to return to what they called their (hiti/ : 
which they accompanied with threats of severe punish- 
ment if they disobeyed. But some, whose noble spirits 
would have honored any man, or station, adhered to tljcir 
lirst determination, iiatto fght agaiyist their ami brofhprs^ 
or (lid in jniUuts; down the fing of their nation. 'J'liese 
wer« immediately j)ut in irons, and fed on scanty allow- 
ance^ of bread and \Aater: for if any thing can brifig down 
the high spirit of an hearty young man. it is the slow tor- 
lure of liunger and thirst ; when it was fiund that (his had 
uot the etiect of <!euasing the American sj)irit, the young 
sufferer was brought upon deck, and stripped to his waist, 
and sometimes lower, and — Oh! my pen cannot write it 
ior indignation ! resentment, and a riii:hteous reven'j;e 
shakes my hand with rage, while J attemjii to record the act 
of villainy. Yes, my countrymen and m_> countrywomen, our 
ijoble minded young men. brougbt up in mure ease and 
plenty than half the officers of a British man of war, are 
violently stripped, and tied fast and immoveable by a rope, 
10 a caiinon, or to the iron railing of what is called the 
gang-v\ay, and when he is so fixed as to stretch tlie skin 
and muscles to the utmost, he is wliipped by a lonc^. Iieavy 
and hard knotted whip, four times more formidable and 
heavy tlian the whip allowed to be used by the carters, 
truck, or carmen, on their horses. With tbis licavy and 
knotted scourge, the boatswain's mate, who is ii-ener;t!Iy 
selected for his strength, after stripping <.ff his jacket lltat 
he may strike the harder, lashes this young num. on his 
drlieatc skin, until Isis back is cut from his shoulders to 
iiib waist ! Few men, of ordinary feelings of humanrty, 



i 



JOURNAL. (y7 



Cbiii«] hear to see, witlioiit ^ijreat emotion, even a tliicf, ora 
robl)er so severely punishetj. lint \vh;it must be tlieieel- 
ini^s ofan American, to sec such a cruel operation upon the 
body of his country man, of his mess-mate and eomp mion r 
\\'e will venture to say, that if a dou^, or an horse, uerft 
tied fast to a post, in any street of any town in America, 
anil lashed witli sneh an heavy knotted w!»ip, swnng bv 
the stronj^ arm of a vin^oroiis man, altho(i2;l» their skins 
were covered and delenilvd by their hair, or fur, we do uoi 
iielieve (hat tlse inhabitants would see it inflicted ou Ihe 
)»oor beast, without carrying the whipper before a magis- 
trate, to answer to the law for his cruelty. Vet what is 
the uhippinpj of a beast, devoid of reason* and covered 
with fur, to this severe opervtidn upon tin* delicate skin 
and ilfsli of one of <»tir ymiiii:: oi<mi : And alL fur w hat .- For 
Jiobly maintainioi^ and upiioldins; the lirst and :^reat prin- 
cipal nfour natiir*'. ^ • l ha« this heroism of our cnsla\cd 
seamen been overlooked, and even dericled b> (he federal 
merchant and llie fiilf^ral politician, and tbe federal mcni- 
hor of eoiiL^ress, and the federal cler-jjyman I Some of our 
hrave fellows have been brou;::!it upon deck everv punish - 
in:^ day, and undcrc^onc this horrid j)uni«hnient* three or 
four times over, until lire crews of the in**n of war were 
di«»po!^cd to cry out sliamc. upon their own ollicers. Somo 
of our poor fellows could not sustain thc-<« repeated (or- 
<ure»^ which is not to he wondered at, uhd have finallv 
!;one to work as soon as they recovered from their barba- 
rous nsa:;e. Others, of firmer framc!* and firmer minds, 
)iave wearied out IIm ir persecutors, whose infernal di^po- 
sitions they have detied, and triumphed over; sucli havo 
been sent out of the ship into our priKori-ships ; and here 
they are (o tell tlieir own story, to show to their countrv- 
inen (be everlastin- marks of tlieir tormenters, the lirilisli 
navy officers. \N iih whnt indi-natiou, rai;e and hfirror, 
Jiave I seen our brave fellows actii.ited, while one of these 
lieroes of national ri:;hts. and national character, bus been 
relatiu;:; his sulferinpis. and showinu; his dei^radiu'^ scars 
made on his bcnly by the accursed whip of a boatswain's 
mate, by order ofan infamous captain of tbe British navv! 
"^ ()U talk of peace, friendship and cordiality with tbe na- 
ti<>n from whom most of us sprang:- ^^ '^ well, perhaps, 
that the two nations should be at peace politicallv, bHl 
can yon ever expect cordiality to subsist between our im- 



63 JOURNAL 

pressed and cruelly treated sailor,and a British navy officer? 
It is next to impossible. Our ill treated sailor, lacerated 
iu his flesh, wounded in his honor, and debased by the 
slavish hand of a boatswain's mate, never can forget t\m 
harbarians ; nor ever can, nor ever ought to forgive them. 
The God of nature has ordained that nations should be 
separated by a difference of language, religion, customs, 
and manners, for wise purposes; but where two great na- 
tions, like the English and American, have the same lan- 
guage, institutions and manners, he may possibly have al- 
iened the devii to inspire one with a portion of his own 
infernal spirit of cruelty, in order to effect a separation, 
and keep apart two people, superficially resembling each 
oilier. 

It may be for good and wise pjirposes, in the order of 
Providence, tliat there should be a partition wall between 
ns and Britain. We have had to deplore that tliree 
thousand miles of ocean is nol half enough; for avarice, 
fashion and folly, are continually drawing us together; 
and these often drown the still smalJ voice of patriotism, 
whose language is, " Come out of her, O my people P* 
There is nothing that tends se strongly to keep us asunder 
as the different dispositions of the two people. Tho 
Americans are a kind, humane, tender-hearted people, as 
free from cruelty as any nation upon earth ; and possess- 
ing as much generosity towards an enemy they have van- 
quished, and who is at their mercy, as any people to be 
found on the records of the human kind. Their laws ex- 
press it; the records of their courts prove it ; the history 
of the war illustrates it ; and I hope that all our actions 
declare it. We may change, and become as hard hearted 
and cruel as the English. It may be that we are now in 
the chivalrous age, or period of our nation, which is the 
generous, youthful stage of a nation's life; this may pass 
away, and we may sink into the cold, phlegmatic, calcu- 
lating cruelty of the present Britons ; and become, like 
them, objects of hatred to our own descendants. What- 
ever we may, in the course of degeneration, become, we 
assert it. as an incontrovertible fact, that the Britons 
are now, and have been for many generations past, vast- 
ly our inferiors on the score of polished humanity. On 
this subject we would refer the reader to the bisiiory of 
England, written by eminent Englishmen and Scotchmen, 



/ 



JO URN- A I.. 6^ 

and to Shakespeare's historical plays, and to the records 
pt* their courts, the annals of Xewjrate, and of the Tower, 
and to their penal code, :;enerally; but above all, to their 
Iwrrid militai'!/ punishments, in their army and in their^ 
navy; and ll»*en contrast the whole with the history of 
America, of her courts, and of her army and navy punish- 
ments. 

When the Ali^erines captured some of our vessels, and 
made slaves of the crew, a very hii;h dcj^ree of sensibility 
was excited, it was the theme of every newspapiir and 
oration, and the subject of almost every conversation. The 
horrors of A li^erine slavery wa& considered as the ne plus 
ultra of human misery ; biit it has so happened, that we 
have many sailors returned a^^aiii to their country, who 
have been* enslaved at Al:;iers, and have been impressed 
atul detained on board Britisli men of war, and afterwards^ 
thrown into their prison-ships. The unile«l oi)inio!i of 
these people is, that I lie Alj^erine slavery is much mores 
tolerahle than the liritish slavery. The Vl:;eriacs mako 
the comnn^n sailors work from six to ei;^ht hours in tho 
day, bui they e^ive them c;nm\ ftiod, and enou:5h «if it, anil 
loJije them in airv places ; and alwavs emplov the otheer.-< 
accorilinc^ to their rank, w licreas the Rriti-^li seem to ta«ve 
a deliiriit in confounding and mixino* to^relher, the ollieers 
With their men. As tr> tlieir puni-<hment.s amon;^ them- 
selves, ihey will cut oil a man's head, and slranivl- him 
With a bow-strin2:, in a summary manner: l)ul a 'Turk, or 
Al;;erine, wouhl sicken at the >ii;ht of a whippina; in ihu' 
navy, and in the armi/ of the chrisiinn k\\\^ of ICn'^land. 
There is no nation upon thi.i ti;lobe of earth that treats its 
soldiers and sailors witli that <le;;rec of barbarity common 
to their camj)s, !:^*arrisf)ns and men of war: for what they 
Jack in the numlier of lashes on board a ship, they make 
ni) in the severilv of infliction, so as to render the punish- 
mi'Ml nearly eijual to the (l;is-.ian knuiit 

If any one is curious to sec liritish military floi2;«;inc; 
treate<l seientiliealiy, I would refer him to chapter xii, 
vol; 2d. of Dr. U. Hamilton's Duties of a lUvi^imental ^ur- 
!;eon, from pa;;e ZZ. to 82. Tlie reading; of it is enou2;li 
to spoil an hungry man's dinner We there read of the 
*=up|)urati Ml and stench that follows after seven or ei;^h- 
liuiidred lashes; and that some me.'i have complained tliaV 
its cticnsivcness was almost equal to the w hipping. NVh 

6* 



ro 



JOURNAL. 



tliore read of the stirs^eon dischargins^ a pound and a hvM 
of matter from an abscess, formed 'in conserisienee of a 
merciless punishment. The reader may also be entertain- 
ed with the discussion, whether it is best to wash the cats 
clear from the hlood, (for the executiorters lay on twenty- 
five strokes, and then another twenty-five, and so on, till 
the nine hundred, or a thousand, ordered, are finished) or 
wliether it is best to let the blood dry on the knots of the 
whip, in order to make it cut the sharper. There, too, 
you may learn the advantage of having the naked wretch 
tied fast and firm, so that he may not wring and twist 
about to avoid the torture, which, he says, if not attended 
to, may destroy the sight, by the whip cutting his eyes, or 
his cheeks and breasts may be cut for want of this precau- 
tion. He say«, however, that in those regiments who pun- 
ish by running the gauntlet, it is almost impossible to pre- 
ventthe man from being cut from the nape of the neck to 
his hams. You will there find a description of a neat con- 
trivance, used at Gibraltar, which was compounded of the 
stocks and the pillory. The soldiers legs were held firm 
in two apertures of a thick plank, while his body and head 
were bent down to a plank placed in a perpendicular di- 
rection, to receive the man's head, and two more apertures 
to confine his arms. In this immoveable posture, human 
heings, Englishmen, Irishmen and Scotchmen, have had 
llieir llesh lacerated for more than half an hour! But the 
Doctor informs us that the men did not like this new eon- 
irivance, as it checked their vociferation and injured their 
Juufrs ; s'o it was discontinued, and thev returned aarain to 
ihe halberts, wltere their hands were tied up over Ibeir 
lieads. Some of these poor wretches have been known to 
gnaw the flesh of their own arms, in the agonies of torture. 
Americans! think of these barbarities, and bless tho 
rjcinories of those statesmen and warriors, who liave sep- 
arated you as a nation from a cruel people, who have nei- 
ther bowels of compassion, or any tenderness of feeling, 
for tlie soldier or the sailor. They value them and care 
for tbem on the same principle that we value a horse, and 
no more, merely as an animal that is useful to them. I 
have for some time ijelieved that America would be the 
grave of the British character. Our free presses dare 
speak of their military whippings, without fearing the 
Ijuuishuicnt infUctcd on the Editor of iheir Political Res- 

I't'.M*. 



• 



JOURNAL. 



Those pressed men liberatefl from the British men of 
war, and sent on board this ship, the Crown Prince, tliat 
is, sent from one prison to another, are large, well made, 
fine looking fellows, for such they usrially select as Eng- 
lishmen. Some of them were men of colour. The follow- 
ing anecdote does honor to the character of Sir .Sidney 
Smith, as well as to that of our brave tars. Sir Sidney 
was then oft' I'oulon. On the news reaching the crew that 
the United States had declared war against England, all 
the Americans on board had determinetl not to fight against 
their country, or aid in striking its Hag ; they therefore 
asked permission to speak with Sir Sidney, who permitted 
them to come altogether on the quarter-deck ; they told 
liim they were all Americans iiy birth, and impressed 
against their will into the British service, and forcibly 
detained, that although they had consented to do the du- 
ties of Englishmen on board his ship, they could not fight 
against their own country. " Nor do 1 wisli you shouhl,"' 
Avas the answer of ihii gallant knight. On being remind- 
ed by one of his oHicers, that they were nearly all petty 
oHicers, he observed to them, that they had been promot- 
ed iu consequence of their good behaviour ; and that if 
they could, as he hoped they would, reconcile themselves 
to the service, he should continue to promote them, and 
reward their good behaviour. They thanked him ; but 
assured him that it was against their principles, as Amer- 
icans, and against a sense of duty towards their beloved 
country, to fight against their brethren, or to aid in pulling 
down the emblem of their nation's sovereignty. He prom- 
ised to report the business to his superiors, and turning 
to one of his otlicers, said, I wish all Englishmen were as 
strongly attached to their country, as these Americans aro 
to tlieirs. 

Another instance of a British commander, the opposite 
of this, is worth relating. I give it as^the sufterer related 
it to us all, and as coniirmed by otiier testimony beside his 
own. The man <leclared himself to be an American, and 
as such, asked for his discharge. The captain said he 
lied, that he was no American, but an Englishman, and 
that he only made this declaration to get his liberty ; and 
he ordered him to be severely whipped ; and on every pun- 
ishing day, he was asked if he still persisted in calling 
himself aa American, and in refusing to da duty ? Tho 



r2 



JOURNAL. 



man obstinately persisled. At length the captain beeanie 
enraged to a high degree ; he ordered the man to he slrip- 
j)L'd,and tied up to the gratings, and after threatening iiini 
Milh the severest flogging that was in his power to inHict, 
lie asked the man if he would avoid the punishment, and 
do his diitii? ** Yes," said the noble sailor, '^ I will do 
my dutiji and that is to blow up your ship the very first op- 
portunity in my power " Tiiis was said w ith a stern 
eountenance, and a corresponding voice. The captain 
seemed astonished, and first looking over his larboard 
shoulder, and then over his starboard shoulder, said to his 
ollieers, this is a damn'd queer fellow I 1 do not believe he 
is an Englishman. 1 suppose he is crazy ; so you may 
unlash him, boatswain ; and he was soon after sent out of 
ihat ship into this prison-ship. This man will carry the 
marks of the acenrsed cat to his grave I; 

O, ye Tories ! ye Federiilists, ye every thing but what 
you should be, who have derided the sufferings of the sail- 
or, and mocked at his misery — Iiad you one half of the he- 
roic virtue that filled and sustained \\\^ brave heart of 
this noble sailor, you would cease to eulogize these ty- 
rants of the ocean, or to revile your own government for 
draN^ing the sword, and running all risks to redress the 
wrongs of the oppressed sailor. The cruel conduct of the 
British ought to be trumpeted throughout the terraqueous 
globe ; but we would feign cover over, if pojssibic, the de- 
pravity of some few of our merchants and politicians, who 
regard a sailor in the same light as a truckman does his 
horse. 

Several of these impressed men have declared, that in 
looking back on their past sufferings, on board Knglish 
men of war, and comparing it with their present coiiline- 
menl at Chatham, they feel themselves in a Paradise^. 
'Ihc ocean, the mirror of heaven, is as much the element 
oi'an American as of an Englishman. The great Crea- 
tor has gjvon it to us, as well as to them ; and we will 
guard Its honor accordingly, by chasing cruelty from its 
surlaiM' uhcther it shall appear in the habit of a Briton. 
or an di;^cvine. 



JOURNAL. 7S 



CHAPTER V. 

It is iinw the last day of the year 1813 ; and we llvo 
pretty comfortably. Prisoners of war, confined in an old 
man of war hulk, must not expect to sleep on beds of down, 
or (o fare sumptuously every day, as if we were at home 
with our indulsent mothers and sisters. All things taken 
into consideration, 1 believe we are nearly as well treated 
here, in the river Medway, as the British prisoners are in 
Salem or Boston ; not quite so well fed with fresh meat, 
and a varietv of vesjetables, because this countrv does not 
admit of it ; but we do suffer, as we did at Halifax, and 
above all, as we suffered on board the floating dungeons, 
the transports, and store-ship Malabar. 

All the Frenchmen are sent out of the ship, excepting; 
about forty officers, and these are all gamblers, ready and 
willing and able to fleece us all, had we ever so much mo- 
ney. 1 wonder that the prison-ship police has not put 
down this infamous practice. It is a fomenter of almost 
all the evil passions, of those particularly which do the 
least honor to the human heart. Our domestic faction 
have uttered a deal of nonsense about a French iiijfuence 
in Amer>ica. By what I have observed here, 1 never can 
helieve that the French will ever have any influence to 
speak of, in the United States. We never agreed with 
them but in one point, and that was in our hatred to the 
English There we united cordially ; there we could fight 
at the same gun, and there we could mingle our blood to- 
gefher. The English may thank themselves for this. 
They, Avith their friends and allies, the Mgerines and the 
Savages of our own wilderness, have made a breach in 
that great christian family, whose native language was 
the English, which is every year growing wider and wider. 
January, 1814. — We take two or three London newspa- 
pers, and through them know a little what is going for- 
ward in the world. We fip.d by them that Joanha Soiith- 
eote, and Molenaux, the black bruiser, engross the atten- 
tion of the most respectal'le portion of John Bull's family. 
Not nuly the British. nffi?er.-j. Iiut the ladies wear the or- 
ange colored cockade, in !>onor of the Prince of Orange, 
and bi'cause the Dutch have taken Holland. Ihe yel- 
low, or orange color, is ail the rage ; it has been even 



TOURXA-L. 



extendcil to the clothin- of the prisoners. Our sailors 
»nv that it i« because we are inider the command of a yet^ 
hie MmivnL or at least a yelluic Commodore^ winch is 

about llie same tliin;;. , « ■,- 

About this time there came on board of us a recrmtin^ 
«rr"pant. to (rv to enlist some of our men in the service oi 
thc'^Prinee Ke-ent. He oftered us sixteen j-uineas ; hut 
he met \wth no success. Some of the men " bored" him 
pretty well. >Ve had a very c;ood will to throw the slave 
overboard, but as we dare not, we contented ourselves with 
lellliia; him what a flo2:2;in5 the Yankees would give him 
and his platoon, when they s^ot over to America. 

About live hundred pris'oners have recently arrived in 
Ihis '' reach," from HaJifax. There are between one hun- 
dred and fiftv and two hundred of Colonel Boestler's men, 
mIk) wfre deceived, decoved, and captured near Beaver 
Dams, on the twenty-tl;ird of June, 18 5 3. These men we^e 
priuripally from Pennsylvania and Maryland. It is difli- 
eull lo describe their wretched appearance; and as diffi- 
cult to narrate their suffering on the passage, without get- 
tiui; into a ras^e, iacohsislent with the character of an im- 
partial journalist. 

To the everlasting disgrace of the British government, 
and of a British man of war, be it known, that these mis- 
erable victims to hardheartedness, were crowded toj^ether 
in the black hole of a ship, as we were, just like sheep in 
a shc'e|)-fold. They allowed but two to come upon deck 
at a time. They were covered with nastiness, and over- 
run with vermin, for these poor creatnres were not alloNsed 
to wash their clothes or themselves. (), how my soul did 
al)Iior the Kuglish, when I saw these poor soldiers! It is 
no wduiliT that people who only see and judge of the 
Americans by the prisoners, that they conceive us to be a 
horde of savages. They see us while prisoners, in the 
iijiiHi d»'u;raded and odious light that we ever before saw 
or IVIi JMUX'Kes in. I can easily conceive how bad and 
«raiily fond. «lirt. vermin, and a slow chronical disease, or 
low Hjjirii-^. may chau'ije the temper and character of large 
iHulitH of men. 1 would ad\isc all my conntrymen. should 
i( e\er be their har<l lot to be a£»:ain in British bondage, to 
exerl iln'in<irlves to appear as clean and smart in their per- 
•01 It a H ihi'ir situation \» !l po-si!ily admit. I believe a 
•oldier feels more of the martial spirit when in uniform. 



JOURNAL. f5 

tliau in a loose drab coat. The same feeling may extend 
to a jiiil2:e in his robes, and to a parson in his gown. They 
all may feel braver, more conscieneious, and pious, for 
this '* outward and visible sio-n," of what the inward 
ou2?ht to be. 

These poor soldiers were, of all men amonj^ us, the most 
miserable ; they had suffered sjreat I y for v*antof i^ood and 
sullicient food ; as six of them had to feed on that quanti- 
ty which the British allowed to four of their own men. 
i5y what we could gather, the most barbarous, ihe most 
unfeeling neg;l€ct, and actual ill treatment, was experi- 
enced on board the JS^emesis, This ship seems, like the 
Malabar, to be damned to everlasting re{)roach. 1 forgot 
to enquire whether her Captain and her Surgeon were 
Scotchmen. 

We turn with disgust and resentment from such ships 
as the Regulus, the Malabar, and the Nemesis, and men- 
tion witli pleasure the Poictiers, of 74 guns The captain 
and officers of this ship behaved to the prisoners she 
brought, with the same kindness and humanity, as I pre- 
sume tlie captain, officers and crew of an American man 
of war Mould towards British prisoners. They cmisider- 
ed our men as living, sensitive beings, feeling (he incon- 
veniences of hunger and thirst, and the pleasure oF the 
gratifications of these instinctive appetites; they seemed 
io consider, also, that we were rational beings ; and it is 
possible they may have suspected ihat some of us might 
have had our rational and improvable faculty increased by 
education ; they might, moreover, have thought that we 
had, like them, the powers of reminescence, and the same 
dispositions to revenge ; or they might not have thought 
much on the subject, but acted from their own generous 
and humane feelings. I wish it were in my power to re- 
cord tlie names of the officers of the Poictiers. Of this 
ship we can remark, that she had long been on the Amer- 
ican station, long enough to know tiie American charac- 
ter, and to respect it. Her officers had a noble specimen 
of American bravery and humanitv. when the American 
sloop Wasp took the British sloop Frolic, and both were 
soon after taken by the Poictiers. The humane, and wc 
dare say, brave Capt. Beresford, has the homage of re- 
spect for his proper line of conduct towards those Ameri* 
jcans whom the fortune of war put under his command. 



•'g JOVllNAL. 

We .Irank the healths, in the best beer we could 2;ct, of 
the (.'jijitain, olneers and crew, of his Britaunic Majest^y's 
line oT batllc ship, Fuicciers. 

It may be tedious to our readers, especially if they be 
r.ritisli/biit we cannot yet leave the su!)jeet of the inhu- 
inaii Ircatment of the American prisoners of war, while 
on I b'^ir passage fiom Halifax to Chatham. Tlie coudi- 
lion of (he soldiers was the most deplorable. Some of 
these men were born in the interior, and had never seen the 
salt ocean ; they enlisted in Boestler's regiment, and were 
taken by the British and Indians, somewhere between fort 
(jeor^^eand York, the capital of Upper Canada. TJiey 
were prelty much stripped of their clotiiin^, soon after 
ihev were taken, and their march to Montreal was con- 

• _ 

ddctcjl with very little regard to their feelings; but when 
sick, f hey were well attended to by the medical men of the 
enemy; their passage from Quebec to Halifax, down the 
river !St. Lawrence, was barbarous. They suffered for 
A icluals. cloths, and every other conveniency. The men 
say that they had more instances of real kindness from the 
indians, tlian from the British. But on their passage 
across the atlantic, their situation was horrible, as may be 
u ell supposed, w hen it is considered that these soldiers had 
never been at sea, and of course could not shift, and shirk 
about, as the sailors call it, as could the seamen; they 
Mere of course, sea sick; and were continually grooping 
aM<l tumbling about in the dark prison of a ship's hold. 
They sutfered a double portion of misery compared with 
the sailors, to whom the rolling of the ship in a gale of 
uind, and the stench of bilge-water, were matters of no 
grievance ; but were serious evils to these landsmen, who 
were constanlly treading upon, or running against, and 
tumbling over each other. Many of them were weary of 
their lives, and some layed downdejected in despair, hop- 
ing never to rise again Disheartened, and of course sick, 
thiM' young men became negligent of their persons, not 
caring wbelher they ever added another day to their 
wretched existence, so that when they came on'board the 
prison hhip. they were loathsome objects of disa-ust. A 
mother could not have known her own son; nor'a sister 
h.T brother, disguised and half consumed as they were, 
with a variety of wretchedness. They were half naked, 
and It was now the middle of winter, aud within thirty 



JOURNAL. '//■' 



miles of London, in tLe nineteenth century, an era famous 
for biiik' societies, for missionary and Iniinane societies. hikI 
• for all the proud boastings of christian and evaniijel- 
ical virtue ; under tiie reiajn of a kini:^!!!! i prince, renown -d 
for their jiberality and ni.iL^naniinity toviirds Frencu cath- 
olics. (huL nol Irish ones,) and towards Ferdinand the i)ij^- 
ot. his holiness the Pope, and tlie venerable institution of 
the holy Inquisition. Alas ! poor old Ju/in Bull, tliou art 
in thy dotage, with thy thousand ships in the great salt 
ocean, and thy half a dozen victorious ones in the serpen- 
tine river, alias the splendid gutter dug out in liyile Park 
for the amusement of British children six feet high. Can 
the world won«ler that America, in her |)rcsent age of 
chivalry, should knock over these doting old fellows, and 
make them the derision of tlie universe. 

I can no otherwise account for this base treatment of 
the \mericans, than by supposing that the British gov- 
ernment had concluded in the summer and ai;tunin of tSIo, 
that America could not stand the tug of war with Eno*- 
land, that Madison was unpopular, and that tl'.e federal- 
ists, or British faction in America, were prevailing, espe- 
cially in New-England ; and that, being sure of conquest, 
they should comuienee the subjugation of the United .States 
hy degrading its soldiery and seamen, as they liave tlie 
brave Irish. They may have been led into this error by 
our federal newspapers, which are generally vehicles of 
nii:iiuf'»rmation. Tlie faction may impede and embarrass 
for a time, but they never can long confine the nervous 
arm of the American Hercules. 

Candor influences me to confess, that there vvere moro 
attempts than one, to rise and take these mow of war trans- 
ports J hud that several experiments were made, ut, 
that they vvere always betrayed, by some Englishman, or 
Irishman, that had crept into American citizenship. X 
hope the time is not far otf, when we shall nject from our 
service every man not known absolutely to have iieen born 
in the United States. Whenever these foreigners j^et 
drunk, they betray their paitiality to their own c mntry, 
an I their dislike of ours. 1 hope our navy never wiii b3 
disgraced or endangered by these renegadoes. Every man 
is more or less a villain, who fii^hts against his o>vn coun- 
tr> The Irish are so ill treated at heme, tliat it is no 
wonder they quit their native soil, for a land of more lib- 

7 



:^ JOUKXAL. 

rrtv niul |i]only ; mid tlioy are often Aiilliful to ihe eouri- 
tryilial lulopl- tlicni : but never trust an Ln^lisiiman, and 
nbuvi* all u f?t()ttliman. It is a luippy circumstance that 
.Anu-rica Mauls neitlicr. hhe Ii.'kI rather have one Eiii^lisU 
inunaractiirer tliaii an hnndrcd Kno'lisli sailors. We !a- 
l)or under tlie inconveiiicnce of speaking the same lan- 
j;uage with the enemies of our risii!«^ greatness. 1 knoAv by 
my own personal experience, that linglish books. pnl)lished 
hinee onr revolutionary war, Iiave a pernicious tendency 
in unpjiifung t]»e j)ure American character. 1 have been 
amusi'd in listcjiing to tlie wrangling conversation of an 
Knglish, Irihh and American sailor, when all three were 
Jiair drunk : and this was very often (he case durina: this 
jnonth of January, ;\s many of our men who Iiad been in 
the IJrilish naval service, received payment from the gov- 
ernment ; and this filled our abode with noise, riot, confu- 
sion, and sometimes figiiting. The day was spent in gam- 
bling, and the ?iight in drunkenness ; for now all would 
atlentpt to forget tin ir misery, and steep their senses in 
forgetfuliiess. The French olHeers among us, seldom in- 
dulged in drinkiiig to excess. Our men said they kej>t so- 
ber in order to strip the boozy sailor of his money, by gam- 
bling. 

N\ hilc the Frenchmen keep sober, the American and 
J')ngli<»h j»;iiJor will indi.lge in their favorite grog. In 
this respect, I see no dilference between English and 
American. Over the can of ««rog, the Eno-lish tar forgets 
ull his harilships and his slavery — ycs^ davpri/ ; for where 
i« I here a greater slavery among white men. than that of 
impressed Englishmen on board of one of their own men 
of war .^ The American, over his grog, seems equally 
bapp>. and equally forgetful of his harsh treatment. The 
Kii-li^hmun. when his skin is full of grog, glows witli 
idolatry for his country, and his favorite lass; and so 
<loen the American : 'Jhe iormer sings tlie victories of 
Bciiibow, llowc. .lervase, and N«*lson : while the latter 
fiiiij; Ihe Hftme songs, only substituting the names of Pre- 
ble, lliiil. Decatur, and Baiubridge, Perry and P^lacdon- 
o- ' Our men parodied all t!ie Englisli national songs. 
*• /iit/f Jiritauhia, rule thr waves," was " Hide ColiiinbhJ* 
&c. ** OufI save great Georu;e, our Jvirio-,-* was sung by 
Q«r bovH, *' God savp n^reat' Jiladisnj/ ;» for every thing 
like fcderaliim was banished from our hearts anil ears'? 



JOURNAL. 



5t> 



\viia'tever we were before, we were all stauneh Madisoiii-. 
ans iu a foreio;n land. The two ^-reat and ruling' passions 
anions? the British sailors uud the American sailors, seem- 
ed precisely the same. viz. love of their countri/, and 'u'e 
of the fair sejc. These two subjeets alone entered into all 
their songs, and seemed to ha the only dear objects of their 
souls, when half drunk. On these two strino-s lians; all 
our nation's j^lorv ; while, to my surprize, 1 found, oi* 
thought 1 found,* that the love of money was that string; 
\vhic7i vibrated oftenest in a l^renehman's heart : but I 
niay be mistaken ; all the nation may not be ^amblers.-^ 
Remember, politicians, philosopliers, admirals, and gen- 
erals, that Love and Patriotism are the t\vo, and 1 almost 
said the only two passions of that class of, men, who are 
destined to carry your flai^ in trifimpli around the terra- 
queous globe, by s'kilfully controlling the powers of the 
winds, and of vapor. 

One word more, before I qnit this national trait. The 
En2;lish naval muse, which I presume must be a Mermaidj 
Iiaii' \^omaa and half fish, has, by her simple, and half the 
time nonsensii*al songs, done nis)re for the British flao: than 
all her gunnery, or naval discipline and tactics. Tiiis in- 
spiration of the tenth muse, witii libations of gro^, have 
actually made the English believe they were invincible on 
the ocean, and what is still more extraordinary, the French 
and Spaniards were made to believe it also. This belief 
constituted a magical circle, that secured tlieir ships froni 
destruction, until two American youth, Isaac HidU from 
Connecticut, and Oliver //. Pernj^ from Rhode Island, 
broke this spell by the thunder of their cannon, and anni- 
}jilate<l the delusion. Is not this business of national 
sun2:s a subject of some importance.^ Love and Patriotism, 
daring amplification, with here and there a dash of the 
supernatural, are all that is requisite in forming this na- 
tional band of naval music. We all know that *' Yankee 
JDaodle.'^ is the favorite national tune of America, althougji 
it commenced with the British officers and Tories, in de- 
rision, in the year 177D. When that animating tune is 
struck up in our Theatres, it electrifies the pit and the 
upper galleries Wlien our soldiers are marching to that 
tune, they " tread the air." " With that tune," said 
Gen. M — , the same g^illant offir^er vv'ho took nine pieces 
of cannon from the British, planted on an eminence, at the 



6f 



JOUHXAL. 



baHle of nrl.luiewatcr— " wi!l> lliat tune, these felIow5J 
ufliilii Tnllou UK' Into liell, ami pull the Devil b> ihf^ nose.^' 
For uiii.t of n;iii\e compositions, we had sung Briiiih 
iciMLTH mil 11 wc had imbibed their spirit, and the feelings 
amlMMiliinpnts imbibed in our youth, are apt to stick to 
iin ihrou-h life. It is higli time we had new songs put iii 
gurnioulljs. 

Unless we attend to the effects of these early impres- 
•ioHH. it is almost incredible, the number of false notions 
(liut N\c imbibe, and carry to our graves. A considerable 
jiaily in llie L'nKed Siat'es have sung Nelson's victories, 
until tliose victories seemed to be their own. Kven on the 
«luy of the celebration of the Peace, the following Ode was 
sung in the hall of the University of Cambridge, ft was 
wriilen by the son of the keeper of the State Prisoa, ia 
^Massachusetts. 

ODE. &;c. i 

COLl'MBTA and Britannia 
Havcccaii-d from VViirf^ire wild ; 
No m re in battle's rage they meff-, 
Tl;c parent and t!ie cl.ild. 
Each g;illant nation now lament 
The hcrois who liave died. 

Bat the brave, on thf wave ^ 

Shall yet in Jriendihip ride. 

Tl bear Britannia's ancient nam'. 

And swell Columbia's pride. 

The flflg-stafF of Columbia 

Shall be tuT mountain Pine; 

Her Commerce on the foaming sea 

Shall be her golden mine. 

Her wealth from every nation borne. 

Shall swell tlic ocean wide. 

And the brave, on the wave, &.c. &cc. 

To Brit ain't Faith and Prowess, 

ShjII distant nations bow, 

The Cross upon her topmast head, 

The Lion at her prow. 

Kn haughty foe shall dare insult, 

No Inftdel deride ; 

for the brave, on the icuve, &c. &c. 

For now the kindred nations 
Shall wage the fight no more ; 
No more in dreadful thunder dasli 
The billows, to the shore: 
Save when in firm alliance bound 

11 foe defied ; 

■ if, C'J th; zv.ii'tf, &c. SiC, 



So 



JOURNAL^ 81 

This captivity in a foreign land, has been to me a season 
of thoui^htfulaess. Sometimes I thou2;ht 1 was like a des- 
pised Jew, among the sous of the modern Babylon, which 
I might have sunk under but for the first principles of a 
serious education ; for 1 was born and educated in the 
state of Massachusetts, near an hundred miles from Bos- 
ton. The subject of education has greatly occupied my 
mind, and I rejoiced that I was born in that part of the 
United States, where it is most attended to. It is an in- 
jury to our national character, that most of the books wo 
read in early life, were written by Englishmen ; as with 
their knowledge we imbibe their narrow prejudices. Th© 
present war has, in a degree, corrected this evil, but time 
alone can effect all we wish. 

A dispute arose between us and our commander, rela- 
tive to the article of bread, which served to show English- 
men how tenacious we, Americans, are on what we consid- 
er to be our rights. 

Whenever the contractor omitted to send ns off soft 
bread, provided the weather did not forbid, said contrac- 
tor forfeited half a pound of bread to each man. The pris- 
oners were not acquainted with this rule, until they were 
informed of it by the worthy captain Hutchinson; and 
tliey determined to enforce the regulation on the next act 
of delinquency of the contractor. This opportunity sooa 
occurred. The contractor omitted to send us off soft 
bread in fair weather; our commander, Mr. O. thereupon 
ordered us to be served with hard ship bread. This wes 
declined accepting, and contended tliat the contractor was 
bound to send us off the soft bread, with an additional lialf 
pound, which he forfeited to us for his breach of punfuu- 
ality. Now the contractor had again and aojain incurred 
this' forfeiture, which went into Mr O's pocket, instead of 
our stomachs, and this mal -practice we were resolved to 
correct. Our commander then swore from the teeth out- 
wards, that if we refused his hard bread, we should have 
none; and we swore from the teeth, inwardly, that we 
would adhere to our first declaration, and maintain our 
rights. Fiiuling us obstinate, he ordered us all to be driv- 
en into the pound by the marines, and the ladder drawn 
lip. Some of t!ie prisoners, rather imprudently, cast some 
re.^.ections on Mr. O. and his family ; in coHsequence of 
which, he ordered us all to be driven below and the hatch- 



P9 closed upon us; and he represen(e(l to the commodore 
thill thf prisoners were io a state of mutiny. He was so 
nlftrmt'd thai he sent the female part of his family on shore 
for sitfety. and requested a reinforcement of marines. At 
liie saini.* time we made a representation to the commo- 
dort , and ••tivfod our j^rievances, in our own way, and w e 
d«inunded llie extra half pound of soft bread, forfeited by 
ihe contractor. In all this business we were as fierce ami 
as blubboni, and talked as big; as a combination of collegi- 
ans, to redress bad commons. We remained in this situ- 
ation two days ; one from each mess going on deck for a 
>upply of water, w as all the intercourse we had with our 
superiors. During all this lime, we found we had got hold 
of the heaviest end of the timber. We found it very hard 
contending against increasing hunger, and should have 
been very glad of a few hard biscuit. Some began to grow 
fclack in their resistance ; and even the most obstinate al- 
lowed their ire to cool a little. To lay SHch an embargo 
on oiiroun bowels was, be sure, a pretty tough piece of 
hclf-denial : for we found, in all our sufferings, that bread 
^vas, literally, the stulfof life. We were about taking the 
j:;eneral opinion by a vote, w hether it was best to eat hard 
hi-icuit, or starve .- Just as we were about taking this im- 
j)ortant vote, in which, I suspect, we should have been 
nnanimous, the commodore and capt. Hutchinson came on 
hoard to inquire into the cause of the dispute 5 and this 
lucky and well timed visit, saved our credit, and estab- 
lished the yankce character for inflexibility, beyond all 
doubt or controversy. These two worthy gentlemen so<^n 
diHcovered that Mr. O. had made representations not alto- 
gether correct. They therefore ordered the hatches to be 
ukcu ofl; and proper bread to be served out, and so the 
dispute ended. 

W hat ad.lcd to our present satisfaction was, that Mr. 
my I.ord hcasly was to allow vjs two pence half penny 
••" '"j: per day, for coffee, tobacco, &c. We now, to use 
' v.lor'H own expressive phrase, looked up one or two 
points nearer the wind than ever. 

ThiH Mr. O. had been in the roval navy from his infan- 

ey, and now at the age of 4e,'raiiks no hio.|,er than a 

'ci.ant. lie once commanded a sloop, and had the ehar- 

- .r of M.ver.ty. He had an amiable wife and many 

thiWrcD, ^^ ho lived iu the prison ship. Lieut. O. was not 



I 



JOURNAL. 83 



the wisest man in all En«']and. He exercised his cunning 
in making money out of his station, but he was under the 
immediate controul of two honorable gentlemen, other- 
wise we should have felt more instances of his revengft 
than he dared at all times show. 



CHAPTER VI. 

It is now the last day of February, IS 14. The severity 
of an English winter, which is generally milder than tho 
winters of i\ew F^ngland, is past ; and we are as comfort- 
able as can be expected on board a prison ship ; we have 
a few cents a day to buy coftee, sugar or tobacco ; add to 
these, we have the luxury of newspapers, which is a high 
gratification to the well known curiosity of a genuine yan- 
kee, by which cant term we always mean a New England 
man. We have been laughed at. by the British travel- 
lers, for our insatiable curiosity ; but such should remem- 
ber, that their great moralist, Johnson, tells us that curi- 
osity is the thirst of the soul, and is a never-failing mark 
of a vigorous intellect. The Hottentot has no curiosity — 
the woolly African has no curiosity — the vacant minded 
Chinese has no curiosity — but the brightest sons of Old 
England and New, are remarkable for it; insomuch that 
they are often the dupes of it. How many thousand gjiin- 
eas a year are acquired by artful foreigners, in feeding 
this appetite of our relation, the renowned John Bull? and 
yet he is never satisfied ; his mouth is open still, and so 
wide, very lately, that Bonaparte had like to have beea 
swallowed up by it, suite and all ! 

We should have taken, perhaps, more satiisfactionin the 
perusal of these newspapers, had they not been so excess- 
ivi'ly expensive. We took the Statesman^ the Star^ and 
BdPs fVeekly Messenger ; and some part of the time, tho 
Whig. The expense of the Statesman was defrayed by 
the S4i!e of green fish to the contractor. The Star was 
takesi by the Frenchmen ; the Whig and Bell's Weekly 
Messenger, by individuals. We paii t'.venty-eight sbili- 
ings sterling per month, for the btatesman^ which is twico 



g% JOURKAt. 

the price of a newspaper in Boston, for a v.hole year. Be- 
si<K ■., it co*t us sixteen shillings per month to j^et these pa- 
pers conveyed on hoard. The reader will probably say, in 
the lnni;ua;;e of Ur. Franklin's allegory, that considering 
our di'stitnte condition, " we paid dear for our whistle.'* 
These newspapers were smu^»ded, or pretended to be smiig- 
cied : our commander's pocket was not the lighter for f'icw 
Kiiirland '* (juidnuncism.'^ But every day afforded instances 
of niL-anness ; scraping misery to the bone, for a few pence. 

The United States is the reffion of all regions of the 
earth for newspapers. There are more neivspapers print- 
ed in the United States, than in all the rest of the ivorld be* 
sides. We do not mean a greater number of copies of the 
same title, but a greater number of different titles ; inso- 
much, ihiit invention is nearly exhausted to aflbrd them 
new names. In England, newspapers pay a very high 
tax ; in America, they are perfectly free, aiid their trans- 
port by the mails is nearly so ; and this is because our gov- 
ernment, that is to say, the people, consider newspapers 
one of the necessaries'of a yankee's life. In the definition 
of a New England man, you should always insert that he 
is *• f^ gf^ to meeting: a]iimaU and a neivspaper reading ani- 
i^nl '*' The sums which we poor prisoners paid for one 
English newspaper a year, would have paid the board of 
m man in tliw interior of our own plentiful country. 

J thought that, at this time, we were as hap*py, or as 
free from misery, as at any time since our captivity. The 
pleasant season was advancing, the days growing longer, 
and the nights shorter, and our condition seemed improv- 
ing, xvhen a dreadlul calamity broke out upon us ; 1 mean 
Ihi' Small poA\ Ihere are no people on the face of the 
earth, w ho have such a dread of this distemper as the peo- 
p e ol New England. Their laws and their municipal re-- 
ukitiouH prove this. \o person «an remain in his own 
fMHue with thi.s disorder ; but certain municipal officers 
ink., cl.ttrg,. of hwn, and convey him to the small pox hos- 
p.l.J. proM, .Ml by ihe laws f.,r the reception of such pa- 
»«M.t4 If II,.. diHor.lcr has progressed so far as to render 
I uJ." r' "I'l"""" "*'P''.Vsicians, dangerous to life to remove 

II I rT * ''^'^" forn.idable precautions may have 
adJcd to the dread of this loathsome disease, ^ 



jdURJcAl.. 85 



"When this alarmini^ distemper first appeared in the 
ship, the surgeon had all the prisoners mristered, to in- 
quire of'tliem who had had the small pox. and who thft 
kine pock ; or, as tliey call it in Enj^land, the cow pock. 
He vaccinated a niin;:)er. But there were several instaiices 
of persons who said they were inoculated with the kine 
pock in America, who took the small pox the natural 
\va\ at this time. I do not consider this as in any derree 
diminishing^ the value of this important discovery and 
practice. Very few practitioners understand this business, 
and a great number of people in the United States havel 
inoculated themselves, witliout knowing at what period t6 
take the matter, and without knowing the true pustule 
from the spurious. IMany of our prisoners absolutely re- 
fused to be vaccinated, although they believed in its efllca- 
cy of guarding them from smnll pox. I was greatly sur- 
prized at this, until I foujid that they felt no disposition to 
preserve their lives any longer. It seemed that their mis- 
ery had so far legsyned their attachment to life, tliat theV 
were indifferent as to any method of preserving^ it. J was 
surpriz^id to find this in some who 1 had considered as 
among (he most cheerful 1 was shocked to find amonj^ 
these a Meight of woe I little expected. Several of them 
told me that life was a burthen ; that pride of character 
kept them from whining and forced a smile on their coun- 
tenance, while their being penned up like so many dirty 
hogs, had chilled their souls, and sunk them, at times, in- 
to despondency. Some said, that nothing but the hope of 
revenge kept them alive. 

There are two extremes of the mind producing a disre- 
gard for life. The one is, the fever or delirium of battle, 
augmented and kept up by the cannon's roar, the sight 
of blood, and military music ; here a man, being all soul, 
thinks nothina: of his body* The other case is, where his 
hody is debililated. his spirit half extinguished, and his 
soul desponding, and his body paralized. Here existence 
is a burden, and the attachment to life next to nothing It 
is here that death appears to open the gate of the prison. 
I found, to my surprize, that several of our countrymen 
were in that desponding state. 

Some refused to be vaccinated, from a persuasion that 
the kine pock was no security against the small pox. 
M'heii 1 endeavored to convince several of them of their 



fA JOURNAL 

' rror, one asked me if a weak man could drire away a 
• .ii'4; one : or a siikiII evil drive away a s^reat one? h. 
niitii need not despair in making a certain class of people 
believe any tlnni>;l)u( trntii 

ll a gnrpri/ina; that when our conntryman, Dr. Water- 
ho -c, lir^l introduced this new inoculation into America, 
in llie >ear isuo, wiiat an opposition the practice met 
wiili : and nothins; hut tiie most perseverina; and unweari- 
ed exei lions, and public experiments, conhl overcome the 
reluflanee, in nujnbers, to receive tins 2:reat l»lessino^. The 
same perversity of jud^^ment was observable among indi- 
viduals in this prison ship 

As the sprinp; advanced, the men contrary to my expec- 
tation, became mure desponding, and the Typhufi fever, or 
rather the Jail fi'ver, appeared among them. From four 
to SIX are taken down with it every day. We have about 
nine hundred men on board this ship; eiglit huutlred of us 
wretched prisoners, and one hundred Englishmen. We 
are more crowded than is consistent with health or com- 
full. Our hanjmocks are slung one above another. It is 
^^arm and oiVensive in the mi'ldle of our habitation ; and 
ih' so who have hammocks near the ports, are anwillins; to 
ha\c them open in tlie night. All this impedes the need- 
ful circulation of IVrsh air. It is a little singular, that it 
is the nd)u&i and hearty that are seized with this fever, 
before those who are weak in body, and, apparently, des- 
ponding in jniiid. 

As the appro|)riate hospital ship is now crowded with 
sick, we are obliged to retain a number in the Crown 
Prince. The aickbai/ of this ship is now arranged like to 
an ho-pital «>hip ; and the hospital allowance served out ; 
and the cimf .surgeon visits us every week Our com- 
niillec, composed of the oldest and most respectable men 
amongst us, do every thing in their power to keep the ship 
tn.l the prisoners clean. Men are appointed to inspect 
the pri>onerh' clothes and bedding ; and even to punish 
ihoHc who rr-hised or were loo indolent to wash themselves 
ami ihtir rloihing; for there were some who were more 
like ho{;H ihan min ; such is the eftect of situations and 
circumslanccs. Our most influential men set the example 
of cirunline-s ; and en»leavoured to instill into the minds 
ofotht-rH the great importance of being free from all kinds 



JOUStXAL. &y 

it is now (lie first day of April, 1814, and tlie small pox 
and typhus fever still prevails in the difterent ships, e.spe- 
ciajly oil board the ship called the Bahama. One hundred 
and sixty-one Americans were put on board her in the 
month of Janwary. She had been used as a prison for 
Danish sailors, many of whom were sick of typhus fever. 
These Americans came, like the rest of us, from Halifax 5 
hein^ weak, weary, fatigued, and half-starved, their de- 
jected spirits and debilitated bodies, were aptly disposed 
to imbibe the coutas^ion. Accordingly soon after they 
went on hoard, they were attacked with it. Ail the Danes 
p.re sent out of her; and her upper deck is eoijverted into 
an hospital ; and the surgeon has declared the sirlp to be 
infectious ; and no one communicates with her but such as 
supply the slup and attend the sick. 

While ^^ sick and imprisoned ^'^ Mr. Beasly visited us 
Dot ; but sent his clerk, a Mr. Williams, to supply the 
most nef^dy with clothes ; and instead of applying to the 
committee, who could have informed him correctly who 
most needed them, he adopted the mode most liable to lead 
to deception and injustice. This Mr. B. seems from the 
beginning, to have considered l:is countrymen as a set of 
cheating, lying, swindling rascals ; and a mutual contempf: 
has existed between them. We wish ail our otiicers and 
agents would bear in mind this fact, tliat complacency 
begets complacency ; and contempt begets contempt. 

We, Americans, have seen and severely felt the highly 
pernicious and demoralizing tendency of gambling; ; and 
we have been long wishing to break up the practice : and 
our selectmen, or committee, vvere determined to eftect it. 
We accordingly took a vote, agreealjly to the xiustom of 
our country, and it was found to he the will cf the majori- 
ty to prohibit the prMactice of it. We began with the rou- 
lette table, or as our men called them, *• w heels of for- 
tune " After no small opposition from tlie French offi- 
cers, we succeeded in putting them down ; but we could 
Hot succeed so easily against the billiard tables. It was 
contended by many that it was an exercise, and a trial of 
skill : and if eonfnied to a halfpenny, or one cent a gjimcj 
it could not be dajigerous to the morals or property of the 
community. On this a warm and lonsc dispute ;>rose. in 
defining gambling. The playing of billiards for a <'"nt a 
game, was contended to be a muscular exerciscy and not 



«• JOURNAL. 

i^iml'linc; : \v]»erea» cards were (lenouneed, as a stutlied, 
jtrdfiilary ooutrivuiicc, for the artful to draw iiioiic} from 
(lie |»ui'kt't.s of till' artless. 

llie oNMurs of" (lie wheels of forliiiie" were, perhaps, 
riniiMl. I licy made innney and lived better than the rest, 
and ilie «»ame remark was made of the owners of the hiii- 
ianl li«!)les. in the course of debate they were tauntin«?lv 
failed the privile<^ed order, and rising from one desjree of 
odious epithet to another, I eonld not help lauo-hing, on 
hearin<; oni' anc^ry orator pronounce this scheme of sere w- 
ini; money out of the pockets of the artless, and then 
lau'^hinu: at their poverty and distress, to be down rie;ht 
Fkokralism. Now it should be known that a Federalist 
and Federalism^ are the most odious ideas that can he 
raij»ed up in the minds of every American prisoner in this 
ri>er. A law was, therefore, proposed, to fine any Amer- 
ican prisoner, who should call another a Federalist. 

'I'his state of contention continued five or six days ; 
wlirn. I am sorry to say it, the gamblino; party increased 
rjillur than lessened. At length tv/o of theparty ven- 
tured to recommence ojamblinjj; — one of them was imme^ 
dittifly se!)i for by the committee, who ordered him to be 
ci>nhne«l in the blach hide, i his lit up a blaze the com^ 
luittce little contemplated. 'I'he whole body of the com- 
mons cried on! aj^ainst this summary and arbitrary pro- 
eo-diiio^. Ibis was ])ronoHnced to be such an alarmino. 
iL'iack on tlie liberty of the prisoners, that every freeman 
in the prison ship was called upon to rise up and resist the 
ilurin- rricroacbment on the birth-ri2;ht of an American. 
A tlronj; party was at once formed in favor of the man 
\0.o was imprisoned without a trial. On this occasion the 
hnim-^ un/umdeu, Siidiiey, -AUil Ar/VAs, were echoed from 
an .pmrlers «f our prison The libertv of the citizen, and 
fuUe imprisonment were discantcd on in a loud and mov- 
ing M.aiin.T. Some talked of a writ of habeas corpus, but 
oUuMH kiMMN not uhat it meant ; but all a-reed that it was 
mirorinlitiinonal to eoiifme a man in prison without trial. 
.1'"' "1"" '';"' ^'''' ""l»'^"'tMice to sav that thev would have 
rrciirh faHlnons amon- them, of imprisoninoMind han-in*^ 
• man, and liMn- bim afl(M•^^a!ds. This roused the'' ire 
or.nm.. of the olVic.rs of that nation, who declared in a 

•ou trv h,m alicrv^ar.U. They all a-reed, however, that 



JOURNAL. 89 

it was an illeii^a! act to confine the man without trial ; and 
that this was a precedent dan?;erous to the liberties of tlie 
prisoner, and that they ofij^ht to protest a2;a!nst it. This 
was a curious scene to tlie surt^^eon, and some other pretty 
sensible English officers; one of whom observod to anotli- 
er, in my hearins^, these Americans are certainly the most 
singular set of men 1 ever met wilh. The man who had 
been confined, was allowed to come from his confmeaient, 
and speak for himself. He had '' the i^ift of the gab," 
and a species of forcible eloquence that some of our law- 
yers might envy. He would have distinguished himself in 
any of o!ir town meetings; and with cultivation, might 
Ijave shone in history. He, however, committed that very 
common fault among our popular orators, he talked too 
much. The President of the Committee was not much of 
a speaker ; but he was a man of sense and prudence. 
Cool as he was, he was thrown a little off his guard by an 
intemperate phrase of the culprit; who, in the ardor of 
his defence, accused the President of being a Federalist ; 
and this turned the current of favor against the unguard- 
ed orator, and he was from all sides, hissed. When quiet 
was restored, the President took advantage of the current 
just turned in his favor, and said, " Fellow Prisoners ! I 
perceive that I have committed an error in confining this 
man without a previous trial, and I am sorry for it. At 
the time, I thought I was doing right, but 1 now see that 
I was wrong ** He then proposed to have the accused 
regularly tried, before the full committee, which he hoped 
would prove themselves the real representatives of the 
community, collected in course of events within the planks 
of an enemy's prison ship. He exhorted the committee 
not to be influenced by party, prejudice, or local attach- 
ment, but to a.ct justly and independently. The accused 
was allowed to speak for himself. He was not an old 
Jack Tar, but the son of a, respectable New J^nglaijd yeo- 
man, with a clear head, and not destitute of learning, nor 
was he ignorant of the law. He defended himself vvith 
real ability, and the spirit of Emmet spoke within him. 
Among other things, he said—" What have I done to 
bring down upon me the resentment of the committee, and 
the vengeance of its President } In attempting to establish 
the rights of this little community, I have suffered the ig- 
nominy of a close confinement, by the order of my owm 

8 



^^ JOURKAL. 

eountrvmen. Mlille we are suffering oppression, degra- 
.lali(U»'au(l insult, from Uie external enemy, shall we re^ 
.louble our mi«<crv, by wrono-fuHy oppressing one another? 
I thon-ht It my iliity to exert myself in favor of an equal- 
ity of nights amongus. I could not bear to hear the dom- 
inceriuL; language, and see the overbearing conduct of the 
purse pl-oud among us ; of a set of cunning, tricking, 
slight-of-hand men, who were constantly stripping the un- 
wary and artless American, of the small sums he had tic- 
«jnired, not by gaming, but by labor and good behaviour. 
) was an enemy to all this ; but I was a friend to the free- 
«lom ofjudgment,andthe freedom of action, provided it did 
not injure the whole. If after what has been experienced, 
our countrymen will gamble with certain Frenchmen, 
above the rank of common seamen, let them doit, and en- 
dure the consequences. It is w roug to attempt to abridge 
ihe liberty of amusement, if that amusement does not 
liarm, or endanger the comfort of the whole." The man 
was acquitted, and escorted to his birth in trium])h. 

Jt is surprisiTig what trilling things will influence a 
crowd ! A few minutes previous to this man's bold bar- 
jangue, every one, almost, was against him ; but as soon 
as he tickled their ears with a flourishing speech, where 
niucli more ability was shewn than was expected, instantly 
ihey clap their hands, admire his talents, applaud his sen- 
timents, and think directly contrary to what they did five 
minutes before. From this incident, have I been seriously 
impressed with the dangerous effects of eloquence. Here 
this man made " the worse appear the better reason." 
liut how many instances have we of the same effect in the 
Grecian, Homun, English and French history I 

This trial, and this specimen of oratory, convinced me 
that liiberty is the parent of eloqiience. I have noticed 
a Htrikinu; difl'erence between our men and those of Eng- 
land, with all their lou<l talk of English freedom. When 
an .\nuMican speaks to an officer set over him, he uiters 
nil that he has to say, in a ready and fearless manner; 
hut when these Enujlishmen come on board of us to bring 
vp'^rtftbhs, or any thing else to dispose of, they stand with 
llnir eaps off, scratching their heads, through awe, and 
( mliarrassment : :ind every other word is, '• Yes, youi* 
Honor.'* or, '• Will your Honor have this, or your Honor 
hate that; and >our Honor knows best;" and all such 



JOURNAL. 91 

tnean and slavish lanpinage. It is remarkable that yoii 
never hear this sort of language, and see this servile man- 
ner, in the common savages of our wilderness It belongs 
only to the common people, and I am told, to the shop 
keepers of England; and to our negroes. Necessity first 
inspires the poor with awe for the rich, and by and by, it 
grows into a principle, 

A day or two after these transactions, we resumed the. 
eonsideration of the practice of gambling) and we turned 
the tables against the billiard players ; and they were ta- 
ken down by an almost unanimous consent : whatever 
some individuals thought or wished, the general opinion 
was so strong, that they dare not express it. Tlie author- 
ity of the committee, and the authority of the President, 
were established more lirmly than ever. 

While writing down these occurrences, I have thouglit 
that we might here see the great characters, and the im- 
portant doings of the Grecian, Roman and American Re- 
publics, in a very small compass. Here we saw the strug- 
gles of vice and virtue, wisdom and folly, and the desire 
of distinction, and the ambition of taking the lead, and 
the little workings of emulation, amid rags and tatters. 
As often as 1 moaned over wearied moments of captivity, 
I do not think the time entirely lost to me. I learnt a 
great deal. I saw close to Ihem the first workings of those 
springs which set republics, kingdoms, empires, and ar- 
mies in motion ; the winds and tides, without which, the 
great cceaTi of human life would stagnate, and all within 
its vast bounds would perish— until now, I saw the human 
heart covered over by pride, encrusted by avarice, or 
cloaked round by hypocrisy ; 1 now saw it exposed, naked 
and bare, to the inspection of each man's neighbour. 

There are among us, Americans, on board this prison 
ship, some men of sense and principle ; but there are ma- 
2iy more, especially among the soldiery, some of the low- 
est of the x^merican community ; the very dres^s of the 
American people. They are lazy, dirty, lying, and prof- 
ligate : and yet thev are total stranirers to some of the 
worst vices of these Freiiclimen. But 1 forbear to enlarge, 
and shall quit this odious subject, by wishing that all 
yo«ing Hmerica'ns may stay at home, and if possible, never 
mix with thcne veterans in vice, who inhabit what is call- 
ed the old world. Next to the French, 1 believe the Irisli 



g2 ' JOURXAL. j 

(lie next in vicious aefioiis. An Irishman appears lo have I 
mure spirit than brains. There are only two situations ' 
in wl.ich an Irislunan seems perfectly happy, viz when 
]n.' has plenty of liquor to drink, and a number of friends 
to give it to : and perhaps we may add, when he is wraii- 
2;ling in a mob. They are amiable, yet bloody ; they liave 
the noblest feelings, with savage liearts. Their passions 
liave the most rapid transitions, so that they will hug a 
man one minute, and the next knock him on the head. I 
speak only from my observations in this confined place. — 
"With the same limitation I speak of the Portuguese and 
Spaniards, a few of whom are here among us. They are 
rattle snakes ; shining, arlossv, maliirnanl and revensreful, 
heyond any fellows I ever met with. Thev are void, how- 
ever, of one virtue of our rattlesnakes ; ihey «ill stab a 
nan to the heart without arivins: him any warnins:. 1 have 
charitably supposed, that when in a violent passion, they 
are !)erefl of reason, and become entirely insane. !Mv oh- 
servations, however, like my remarks on Frcnclimen, 
are confined to the narrow space of this floating prison. 
"We siiould be very cautious in making general or national 
censures. 1 have suspected whether among the Koman 
Catholics, the practice of confession and absolution, had 
not opened a door for some Iiorrid crimes, such as murder. 4 
ft may be, too, that they look upon us, Protestants, as I 
the Mahoinedans do the Christians, a sort of outcasts, the 
killing of whom amounts not to the horrid sin of murder, 
it is certain that some of these people have been known 
to j)lunge a knife into a man, with no more compunction 
than an Englishman or an American would use Lis fist. 



CHAPTER YII. 

^Ipril 2Qth, 181-i. — The good effects of the abolition of 
all the apparatus of gambling, were more and more ap- 
parent. Those who were heretofore employed merely in 
rattling of the dice, and sljufiiing of cards, were now occu- 
pied in matters more becoming a rational and accounta- 
i)le being. They are now busily employed iu reading, 



JOURNAL. 93 

\>rilin<r, drawinp;, ainl in studyinp; arilliraetie ami navipja- 
iioH. Our ship bej^ins to wear tlie appearance of a semi- 
nary of learniiiir; for we have esta')lishe(l numerous 
seliools, in various parts of the ship ; and there appears a 
strong desire for improvement among; the yonni^er class of 
tlje prisoners. Every one is now convinced of tlie perni- 
cious eftects of njamblinp:. In order to imj)rove this praise- 
\vorih\ disposition, tlie committee, which, is in fact a 
board of selectmen, applied to the aii^ent, Mr. Beasly, for 
stationary ; he accor(lin2;Iy sent us a ream of writins^ pa- 
per, a few slates, and a few copies of a small treatise oil 
arithmetic His supply was !jy no means equal to our 
needs. Four times tiie number would have been in con- 
slant use ; for it checked the emulation of some, when liiey 
could not obtain what thev uisiied. 

Jt was pleasing to see a number of quite youn^; i»P" pre- 
ferriiit^ education to i^amiu;^, noise and uproar; not but 
M'hat we had anions: us a set of noisv, thouirhtless, e:ii;- 
glini;^, idle fellows, mere drums, that sounded loud by- 
reason of their emptiness. 1 never was so lhorou2;hly 
convinced of the ii^reat importance of a good education, 
i^rounded on sound and serious piincij)Ies, as since F hav© 
formed one amnug this congregation of wretchedness. I 
fear 1 shall betray my partiality if I should can<lidly 
nrite down my obscrvaticjus on this suliject. NN'e Ameri- 
cans are taught from our infancy nol only to believe, but 
to think, compare, and hold fast that which we fmd to 
be good. It seems to me that the Roman catholic religioa 
takes all the trouble of thinking a?jd examining from otf 
the mind of their believers. It is a scheme of rules and 
discipline not very unlike that of the milllarv, and its 
punishments horrible. The episcopal church of England 
treads close uj»on the heels of the papal, and has formed 
a system all cut and dried, like the catholic, for a man to 
believe and be s^ved. Both of thcai make religion a sta- 
tionary point, and not a motive of principle, forever jiro- 
gressing to perfection. One never dares to think, ors[>eak 
be}und the bounds of tiiat common prayer book, establish- 
ed bj the king and his council : whereas an American 
reads or hears read the bible from his infancv. anil there- 
by acqwires a freedom of thinking, unknown even to the 
generality of Englishmen. 1 should never have thought 
iso iBKchon these subjects had 1 not remarked llie ditfer- 

8* 



g-t JOURNAL. 

dice of thliikino;, and behavior of the different people here 
cruii < (1 to£^etl;(*r l do not presume to say which is best, 
or ubieli is worsi ; 1 can only say whic'i is the freest from 
lii^" try. and which is least tramelled by ordinances merely 
2)'jlilical. 

he raj^i^ed and despised lej^islators of the Crown Prince 
prison ship, in solemn council, between decks convened, 
never adopted a wiser measure than that of breakins; up 
llie danj^erous habit of gambling. 1 had an idea that 
learning; often become the ruling passion ; but I never be- 
fore had an idea of its fascinating power. Some of our 
crew of reputed good habits became so bewitched with 
gaming, that they plundered their companions and return- 
»'d to tlieir cards and wheels of fortune with a serious and 
anxious ardor, totally void of pleasantry, that seemed to 
ine to border upon insanity. 

After the gaming tables were demolislied, some of our 
companions amused themselves by running, and tumliling, 
and scampering about the ship, disturbing those who were 
disposed to read, write and study navigation. Not eon- 
lent with this, they hollowed, ridiculed and insulted people 
passing in vessels and boats up and down the river. The 
commander had no small difticulty in putting a stop to this 
disgraceful river-slang. 

On receiving a month's pay from Mr. Beasly, our agent, 
so called, every prisoner contributed three pence toward;? 
a fund for purchasing beer. They formed themselves into 
classes, like our collegians, and these appointed persons 
to sell it to those who wished for it; and each member of 
Ihe class shared his proportion of the profits. This an- 
swered a very good purpose ; it checked the monopolizers 
;ind muck worms that infested our ship, and fattened on 
our wastefulness. It also benefitted those who did not 
choose to drink beer, or porter, as they call it in England. 

f^ome disagreeable and very mortifying occurrences took 

jdace among us in the course of this spring. Four of our 

•Jnen agreed together to go on to the quarter-deck and offer 

Jhcmselvcs to the commander, to enter into the service of 

ilic British. Their intention was discovered before they 

had an opportunity of putting it in execution. Two of 

tlx-m were caught and two escaped. These two were ar- 

jai-^iied and scjitenced to be marked with the letter i\ with 

India lakj p^ricked into their foreheads; being the iQitiui of 



JOURNAL. QP 

iht word Traitor ; after which, oue weut aft and entered ; 
the other judged better.aud remained witlj his countrymen. 
Had these been Englishmen we sliould liave applauded 
them; and had they heeu Irishmen, we had no right to 
hlume t!iem ; but we had the mortification to know thai 
tiny were, by birth, Americans. Some thought the puu- 
ishment was too severe, and which we had no right to in- 
flict ; others tlioi:glit tliat the letter in their foreheads 
should have been F, for Federalist ; for this was the 
nam* they ever afterwards were known by. 

The Frenehmen were now (in the mouth of May) leav- 
ing the reach. Many of them had been in prison since 
1803. These men are going home to live under a govern- 
ment forced upon them by foreigners ! How unlike Amer- 
icans, who had rather perisli under tortures Our French- 
men always spoke in raptures of the Kmperor Napoleon, 
and with contempt of Louis. When we spoke in pratse of 
Bonaparte, they would throw their arms around us, luul 
cry out, one bon American ! But thrse men are all passion 
and no principle : they are fit for any thittg but liberty. 
I cannot judge of the whole nation ; but those 1 have seen 
liere, are an abandoned set of men. i dare not w rite down 
their incredi))le vices, i'here has been a great cry of 
French iujluence by the ISritish part\ in New England. I 
never thought it ever existed, and 1 am very certain that 
it never will exist, unless they and we should becoine a 
very altered people. It is a happy circumstance that 
thew ide atlanlic roils between us and France, and betw eeu 
us and England. 

Louis isth, passed through Chatham this month fof 
Franco. The tops of the carriages, only, were to be seen 
by the prisoners. On this occasion, the cannon were fir- 
ing from London to Sheerness. Our Frenchmen looked 
blacker than ever. They were, be sure, obliged to stick 
the white cockade on their hats, but they told us they had 
Bonaparte's cockade in their hearts. They check the ex- 
pression of their feelings, lest it should retard their liber- 
ation. 

On the n^lvs of taking of Paris, and of the flight of Bo> 
naparte to Elba, all cur prison-keepers were alive for joy. 
" 'i hank God that 1 am an En'^lishman^^'' says our com- 
mander, lieut. O. — and '• thank God 1 am a Briton,^* says 
our surgeon; who i^ si Scotchman. John JbiUl is uow oji 



§9 j»yRi>rAL, 




liis holiness the Pope, and of Ferdinand the Great, the ter- 
ror and iidnnration of the whole world i have UMlhing 
now left (lie to do, bul to flog; the yankees. and depose 
]Madison. and burn the eity of Wasl'iington, disperse the 
Coiit^ress, establish in their place the Hartford Convention 
and raise Caleb Strona; to the high rank his devotion mer- 
its. After this, I will divide the world between me and . 

15ut lirst, 1 will read these dispatches from Sir George 
Prevost. who is, hevond doubt, at this verv moment, at the 
city of Hartford, in Connecticut, or at the city of North 
Hampton, the capital of my province of Massachusetts. 

John Bull* is, be sure, an hearty fellow, \\ith some very 
good points in his character; but, dwelling on an island, 
he oft times betrays an ignorance of the world, and of him- 
self, so that we cannot lielp laughing at him, once iu a 
while, for his coiiceitedness. His ignorance of America, 
and Americans, is a seurce of ridicule among us ail. An 
English lady said to one of the ofliicers who had the care 
of American prisoners in England, *' i hear. Sir, that the 
Americans are very ingenious in the manufactory of many 
little articles, and should like to have some of them." The 
officer replied that she might herself give directions to 
some of the Americans, whom he would direct to speak 
M'ith her. " <)/» said she, " how can that be, / cannot 
spittle their language r' The individuals of the navy of 
England, have pretty correct ideas of us; but the soldiery 
of England have betrayed their ignorance in a manner 
that is astonishing, and sometimes truly laughable, even 
among their officers who have taken prisoners. To this 
Ignorance of free and happy America, and to the very gen- 
orally diffused blessings of a respectable education, wliicli 
>ve all enjoy, is to be attributed the base treatment we have 
ex|)cnenccd in some periods of our painful captivity. Who 
could have entertained any respect, or good opinion of a 
set oi miserable looking, half naked, dirty men, such as we 
all were when we arrived in the different ships from 

t Je^mT^T'* readers need not be told, that by John Bull, we mean 
Bat'';!i'w.[^^;°7b« °^?i;^. See Jica.SwifL'.adnuxabk hmoryoi JoK. 



JOURNAL. 9i 

America ? Our own parents, our brothers and sisters, 
Mould not have recoi^nized us as their relatives. Ti»e sol- 
diers taken under Boesller, were tlie veriest looking va^^a- 
honds 1 ever saw. Tliey resembled more the idea I have 
formed of the lowest tenants of St. (files', than American 
citizens, born and bred up in a sort of Indian freedom, and 
living all their lives in plenty, and never knowinp;. until 
they came into the hands of the Enc^lish, what it was to 
be pinched for food, or to be infested by vermin. This 
short, severe, and for America, most odorious war, has 
given all ranks of the British nation more correct ideas of 
tbat people. who have vanquished them in everj contest, the 
ill-omened fris^ate Chesapeake alone excepted. During; this 
slioit war, the British have learnt this important truth, 
that the Americans are a brave and skillii! people, v^ ho, 
thoua;h they appear to differ amont^ themselves, are all 
united against cnvj attack from the English ; and on our side' 
we have learnt, that to carry on a war as we have done,- 
is very e.v pensive. 

The suri>;eon of this ship, who is a clever Scotchman,- 
speaks of the English nation as in a state of starvationi 
in the midst of her great power, and abounding wealthy 
and matcbless glory ; for the late capture of Paris, by the 
English^ \>ith a trtfiing assistance of the allies, has abso- 
lutely intoxicated the wliole nation, so that every man of 
them* talks as if he were drunk He told me, *• that al- 
though the ship carpenters, at Chatham, received two 
guineas a week, (which, by the way, is not so much as our 
carpenters receive in America) they were always poor, 
and could lay up nothing against the accidents of sickness, 
hut that when such misfortunes came upon them, they, in 
common with the manufacturers of England, with their 
families, went upon l!'.e parish, or into some liospitals " 
He said, " such lalioritiT people laid out too much of their 
money in flesh meat and in porter, w Inch was not the cus- 
tom in Scotland: and that there it was considered an in- 
delible disgrace to a fan»ily to be maintained by tlie pari.-h, 
but th;it it was so common in England, that no disgrace 
was attached to it. We. in Scotland, (said he) would work 
our hands off before any of our family should ask the par- 
ish for assistance, to live." He talked much about the [)oor 
lavs and the taxes to support ihe vast number of the poor 
in Eniilaud. I told him that ija Massacliusettir, which c(m- 



%$ JOURNAL 

tainpfl about lialf a million of people, we had not more 
than a tiioiisAnd persons maintained at the public charge ; 
niid tliat this thousand included foreij^ners — English, 
Scotch, Irish, Germans, Danes, Swedes, and not a few ne- 
i^roes. He seemed surprised at this account, but after a 
little pause he said, ♦* it was just like Scotland, where they 
had very few j)oor ; and of those very few were so degrad- 
ed in mind, as to go into an alms-house.'* 

The Doctor observed, " that the English were full of 
money ; that they give large and long credit, and that tay- 
lors, shoe-makers and hatters gave a generous credit, and 
could aftord so to do.'* He said, " that the * capitalists' 
ruli'd and turned the wheels of the government at their 
will and pleasure; they have great influence in the nation, 
hut they have no ancestors, nor any thingto boast of but their 
money, which gives them all their consequence; for it is 
true if they shut their purses, the whole machinery of the 
government must stop." I could have told this discontent- 
ed Caledonian a ditferent story. I could have told him t* at 
all our capitalists, merchants and monied men, especially 
in \ew England, had shut their purses against our admin- 
istration, and yet, in spite of these detestable sons of mam- 
mon, our governmental machine went steadily on, vvhile 
Me vanfjuished our enemy by land and by sea*; but I did 
not wish to mortify a civil, friendJy man. * '' In England,'* 
coutiuued he, '' the merchant governs the cabinet ; and the 
cabinet governs the parliament : and the sovereign governs 
boih; bat, (said he) the capitalists, (by which, he meant 
the mercantile interest) govern the whole.'* I did not 
choose to controvert his opinions : but, '^ thinks-1-to-my- 
silfV'ah! Sawney, thou art mistaken ; America, demo- 
iratic America, has proved that the most democratieal 
government upon the terraqueous 2;lobe. have gone stead- 
ily on to greatness, to victory and to glorv, with the capi- 
talists or mercuntilp interest, in direct opposition to its 
wondrotis jneasures ! 

J believe that our surgeon was a good man, and not ill 
qiml'bed in his profession, but no politician, and preUy 
Mrwogly altaebe.l to iiis tribe; who, from his account, 
nrver .pent mueh money in buying meat and stronp- beer. 
lU fnlKed mu.-h nf fi.e machine and wheels of o-ov^rn- 
ment: Irom all njueh I .•onelt.ded, that the court" of St. 
J:^mr.. . uas the hub^ or nave, where all the spokes cf tire 



JOtJRNAL. fS 



great wheel of tlie macliine terminated; anrl that the la- 
boring; people, manufacturers, and merehants nere doom- 
ed, si) their days, to j^rease this wheel. It is remarkable 
that David, the royal Psalmist, among the severest of the 
cjirses of his enemies expressly says, " Lovely make them 
like unto a wheeL'^ 






CHAPTER VIII. 

The month of April, which is just past, is like our April 
in New England, raw, cold, or as the English «m1I it, sour. 
But their month of May, which is now arrived, is pleas- 
anter by far, than ours. By all that I can observe, 1 con- 
clude that tliC vernal season of this part of the Island of 
Britain, is full fifteen days, if not tueuty, earlier than 
that of Boston. I conjecture that this spot corresponds 
with Philadelphia. 

The Medway, thous^h a small river in the eyes of an 
inhabitant of the new world, is a very pleasant one. The 
moveable picture on its surface, of ships, tenders, and 
hari^cs, is very pleasins^, while its banks are rich and 
beautiful. Oh what a contrast to horrid Nova-Scotia, 
with her barren hills, and everlasting^ bleak mountains ! — - 
The picture from the banks of the river to the top of the 
landscape, is truly deli2;htful, and beyond any thing; I ever 
saw in my own country, and this is owing to the hedges, 
which are novelties in the eyes of an American. In our 
country, the fields, meadows and pastures are divided by 
stone \Aalls, or the rough post and rail fence ; but here 
their fields, pastures and enclosures, which are very small, 
compared with ours, are made by hedges, or living grow- 
ing vegetables,of a deep and most beautiful green. It gives a 
richness to the English landscape,beyond all expression fine. 
How happens it, I wonder, that hedges have never been 
introduced into J^ew England, who has copied so closely 
every thing belonging to Old Enailand ? Should I ever be 
permitted to leave this Babylonish captivity, and be al- 
lowed once more, to see our own Canaan, the enclosures of 
fiedge shall not be forgotteo. 



100 JOURNAL. 

Nearly opposite our doleful prison stands the village of 
GiUiUi^hauu ii(\ornv\\ with u handsome church ; on the side 
next Chathanu stands the castle defended by more tMan aij 
hundred cannon. These fortifications \vere ererted soon 
afi**r tl^e S^iilch republicans sailed up to Chathacn, and 
5iin;ed JoIhi Bull's beard, smce which it is said, he chani^es 
cou"iileTiance at the name of a republic. We are told ia 
the history of (jillina,*h:im, that here the famous Earl Good- 
will murdered six hundred Xorraan a,'eutlemeu beloni^inj^ to 
the retinue of Prince Alfred. But surne such shocking 
story is told of almost every town in England that has an 
old castle, an old tower, or an old cathedral. This villa^-e 
once belono'ed to an Arclibishop of Canterbury, vestis^es of 
whose palace are yet to be seen. This place is also noted 
for making what is absurdly called capppras, which is the 
cry".talized salt of iron, or what is called in the new che- 
mical nomenclature, sulphate of iron ; or in common par- 
lance, green vitriol; which is manufactured, and found 
native in our own country. 

Near to this village of Gillinghani, is a neat house with 
a good garden, and surrounded by trees, which was be- 
queathed by a lady to the oldest boatswain in the Royal 
Navy. The present incumbent is 80 years of age. With- 
in our view is a shepherd attending his flock with his 
canine lieutenants, who drive them into their pen in the 
evening, just as our shepherd does us on board the Crown 
Prince. In a clear day the masts of the ships can be seen 
passing; up and down the Thames. This brings to our 
minfls our own gallant ships, whose decks we long once 
more to tread. 

Britain pursues a malignant policy, in confining us in a 
loathsome prison. The Britains know, probably, that a 
long and lingering imprisonment weakens the body, and 
dimijjishes the energy of the mind ; that it disposes to 
vice, to a looseness of thought, and a destruction of those 
moral priiicijdes inculcated by a careful and early educa- 
tion. Such a sink of vice I never saw, or ever dreamt of, 
as I have seen here. Never was a juster saying than th^it 
of *^ Evil communications corrupt good manners.'' One 
viciou<4 fcllou may corrupt an hundred, even if he speaks 
an(»th»'r Iani::nage. 1 have been thoroughly convinced of 
t1)'- wisdom of solitary imprisonment By what I liave 
Acen and heard in this ship, where there are seneriilly 



JOURNAL. 101 

from seven to nine hundred men, that such eolleciions are 
so many hot-beds of vice and viliany. It is a coile^v of 
Salan, where degrees of wickedness are conferred e meri- 
to. Here we have freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and 
seniors, in roguery, together wilh Bachelors, Masters of 
Arts, and Doctors. 

Is it not a shame and a disgrace to Christian natives, 
that because a man has had tl»e virtue to step forward in 
tlie cause of his country? in the cause of free trade and sail- 
ors' rights, or from that glow of ciiivalry that tills a 
youthful bosom, or the sound of tlie warlike drum and 
trumpet, and the sight of the waving flag of his insulted 
country ; is it not a shame that such a young man of pure 
morals and careful education, should be plunged into 
such an horrid prison as this ? amid vice, and roguery, 
and every thing else, de!)asing to the character of so mor- 
al a people as the Americans really are ? 

The prisoners and the commander had lived in pretty 
good harmony, until very lately. Some of our men had 
absolutely cut a hole through the ship, near her stern, 
and cut the copper all round the hole, excepting at tho 
under side, which enabled them to bend <io\vn the copper 
at their pleasure, and open a passage i!ito the water, and 
to re-close it in such a mannc as to escape detection. It 
was affected with a great deal of art and good management. 

The first dark niglit after this newly contrived stern- 
port was finished, sixteen of the prisoners passed througli 
it into the water, aud suani safely on shore, not\uthstand- 
ing a sentinel was stationed directly above the hole. They 
took care, however, to allure him as far forward as they 
could, by singing droll songs, and handing about soma 
grog, which had been provided fur that purj)ose. Sixteen 
was thought to be as great a num!)er as could be prudent- 
ly ventured to escape at once ; for one night the copper 
which operated like a door upon its hinge, was considera- 
hly ruptured, and the prisoners gave over the attempt, 
and retired to their hammocks again. 

The next evening the prisoners were to be counted; and 
it was of the first importance to keep up the entire num- 
ber, and prevent the detecticm of our plot. To this end 
we cut a hole through one deck, big enough for one man 
I to pass from one enclosure of prisoners to the other. 
There was always a number of prisoners left on eaeli 
9 



iOZ 



JOURNAL. 



deck, ubo were counted by the seroeaut below ; while the 
Serjeant passsed IVom the lower <leck to the next above it, 
sixteen men slipped through the hole, and were counted 
over again ; and this deception kept the numbers good, and 
iliis trick was practised several times whh success. The 
nigljts were now too light for a second attempt to escape. 
AVhen they became sufHciently dark again, we prepared 
for a second attempt. After drawing lots for the chance, 
each nitin was provided with a little bag of cloths, plais- 
tercd o^ er with grease, to keep them water tight, they 
passed agreeably to lots drawn, to the hole near the stern 
of the ship. Two got well into the water, but one of 
Ihem was tender and timid. Trepidation and the cold- 
ness of the water made him turn back to regain the hole 
lie crept out of. In coming near the staging where the 
sentinel was posted, he Jieard the poor fellow breathe, 
and at length got sight of him : — •' Ah," says paddy," here 
is a porpoise, and I'll stick h'wu with my bayonet." — On 
which the terrified vouno? man exclaimed — *' don't kill 
jne. I am a prisoiier." The sentinel held out his hand 
and helped him on to the staging, and then fired his gun to 
give the alarm. The guard turned out, and the officers 
ran down in a fright, not being able to conceive how the 
man could have got over board, surrounded with a plat- 
form, and guarded as this ship was They ran here and 
there, and questioned, and threatened, and rummaged 
about ; at length they discovered the sally port of the en- 
emy. The ofricers stood in astonishment at the sight of a 
liole big enough for a man to creep through, cut through 
the thick planking of a ship of the line. "\Yhile they star- 
ed and looked pale, many of the prisoners burst out a 
laughing. None but an American could have thought 
and executed such a thing as this. One of the officers 
Raid he did not i)elieve that the Devil himself would ever 
he aide to keep these fellows in hell, if they determined 
on gettiTig out ! 

The poor fellow who had crept oat, and crept back 
again, was so chilled, or petrified with fear, that he could 
give the olficers no account of the matter. In the mean 
time, muskets were fired, and a general alarm through 
the fleet of prison ships, fifteen in number. The river 
HttH soon covered with boats, but not a man could thev 
find. The next day the man who escaped was found dead 



JOURNAL. 10,3 

on the beach, where he lay two days in the siglit of iis all. 
At length a coroner's inquest was held npoii him; but no 
one was examined by the jury, exceptii}g the crew of the 
boat, who first discovered him. It was said that there 
were bruises about his head. His ship-mates said tliat he 
was one of the best swimmers they ever knew. It was 
strongly suspected that he was discovered swimming, and 
that some of the marines knocked him on the head, in re- 
venge for turning them out of their hammocks in tlie 
uight. His clothing, his money, and his watch were tak- 
en by lieutenant Osmore^ the commander of this prison 
ship. It was disgraceful to the people and to the civil 
authority, to allow the man to lay such a long space of 
lime, unexamined and unbi;ried, on the siiores of a chris- 
tian people. 

When the prisoners were called to answer to their 
names, those absent were called over several times; whini 
some of the prisoners answered that the ai)sentees had 
been paroled by the commander, and gone on shore. This 
saucy answer enraged the commander, excited his resent- 
ment, and laid the foundation for fulrne diiliculties. 

I must needs say, that some of our young men treated 
Mr Osmore, the first oflftcer of this prison ship, in a man- 
ner not to be excused, or even palliated. If they did not 
love him, or esteem him, still, as he was tlie legally con- 
stituted commander of this depot of prisojiers, he was en- 
titled to good manners, which he did not always receive, 
as the following anecdote will show. Not long after the 
escape of the sixteen men, our commander and his familv 
were getting.into the boat to go on s'lore, v.hen a boy looked 
out of a port near to him, and cried out haa J baa ! This, 
Mr. Osmore took as an insult, and ordered the port to be 
shui down ; but the messes that were accommodated by 
the light from it, forced it up again. Now the origin of 
this ludicrous and sheep-like interjection was this ; a story 
was in circulation that lient. O. had taken some slieep 
from the neighboring marshes, without leave or license, 
and converted them to his own use, and that the owner be- 
ing about to prosecute him, the affair wa& made up by the 
interposition of friends, on compensation being made. 
Novv it is probable that there was not a word of truth in 
this sfory ; but th.it was the report. The commander, 
tber«fore, on finding his orders resisted by the prisoners, 



iO-k 



JOURNAL. 



ilirccted some marines <o shut the port and confine it do^Vil 
tvilh spikes, an,! ordered the sentinel to fire into the port 
il' they forced it open again. Upon this, some of the pris- 
oners tore up a Isirs;^ oaken bench, with which they forc- 
ed open the port, and kept tlie bench out, so as to keep up 
tliai valve, or heavy shutter, sustained on hinges, that 
wlien down, closes the port hole, at the same time the 
j.hecjMsh note oi' baa .' baa ! baa.' was uttered from every 
]>art of (he sliip; sounding like an immense flock of sheep, 
ijiat mia;ht hn-se been heard full a mile. Although none 
f»f us could help joining in the loud laugh, for laughter is 
r«»ntagious, tlie most prudent of our countrymen condemn- 
ed the conduct as highly improper. It is said, if one 
man is determined to insult another, let him do it and 
abide the consequences, but never insult a man in presence 
«)f his family. If we Americans are in the habit of rid- 
iculing ribands, and garters and keys, and crowns and 
sceptres, and mitres, and high sojjnding titles, let us never 
attempt to diminish the digiiity of patriarchal rank. 

The riot did not end here ; for when the commander 
found tiiat he could not keep tlie port entirely shut, he 
ordered the marines to drive tlie prisoners off tije forecas- 
tle down into the pound, which occasioned the boys to sing 
out as before ; and even to be more insulting. This he 
-was determined to bear no lon^rer; and he therefore drove 
ihem all below, ailowina: only the cooks to remain in the 
ajallcy, and the caterers to ga upon deck, to get water 
from the tanks. The market boats were forbidden to 
come near us, and in this state of embargo we remained 
during two days, all the time confined merely to the gov- 
ernment allowance of food. At length, the committee re- 
ciuosted the commander to transmit some letters for them 
to the American agent for prisoners, and to the British 
commodore. This he could not well refuse. These two 
olVieers accordingly came down to us. They requested the 
]»rcsident of tlie committee to state to them the cause and 
rourse (if the dispute. Mr. Osmore stated his complaint, 
and the ])resident of our committee replied, and stated 
ours : and among other things, observed that the word 
'' biia'^ had no more meaning than a thousand other sense- 
less cries, uttering constantly from the throats of idle, 
thoughtless boys ; and begged Mr. Osmore to explain how 
feutU an unmeaning; sound could be construed into an in- 



JOURNAL. i05 

suit : that if he antl his officers shoi:ld cry haaJ beta I baa I 
all «liiv, nnue of the Amerieiins would think themselves ia- 
jured or affronted. As to forcibly keeping; the port open, 
the president observed, that however offended he might be 
with a sauc) boy, the men did not deserve to be deprived 
of the light of heaven, and to be confined below, and re- 
duced to a smaller allowance of food. The result was, 
the hatches were ordered to be taken off, and we were all 
restored to our former situation. Capt. Hutchinson ac- 
quired an additional stock of popularity with the prison- 
ers for this decision in our favor. The prisoners are dis- 
criminating and not ungrateful. The sailing-master, who 
is a SeotchmaJi, has always treated us with great tender- 
ness and humanity. He has attended to our little conven- 
iences, and forwarded our letters. Mr. Barnes never de- 
scends to little contemptible extortions ; nor is he on the 
continual watch, lest his dignity should suffer by a look, 
a tone, or a.playful interjection. When Osmore is absent 
and Barnes gives orders, it is instantly and cheerf silly 
obeyed. If there is any disorder, this worthy Scotchman, 
can, by a word, restore harmony, of which we might give 
many instances. In reprimanding a boy the other day, 
for ill behavior, he said to him, " I expect better things of 
you as an American ; 1 consider you all in a different light 
from that of a d — d set of French monkies." 

Mr. Galbreath is, likewise, a Scotchman ; and he, too, 
is a very worthy man. These two worthy Caledonians 
operate together in alleviating our hard lot ; and they do 
as much to please us, as the jealous and revengeful dispo- 
sition of some body else will admit of. We are all pretty 
healthy, and the hospital arrangements on board are brok- 
en up; some few remain on board the hospital ship. 

Tenders are daily passing down the river, filled with 
geamen and marines, bound to America. As they pass by 
us, they play •' Yankee Doodle,'^ and cry out to us, that 
they are bound to America, to flog the yankees. We hol- 
low to them, in return, anfl tell them what they will meet 
there, and predict to them their fate. Some of thes-e fel- 
lows have been seven years at sea, and would desert to 
our colour the first opportunity. These white slav s ex- 
pected to enjoy a little something like freedom, a» the 
eonchision of the peace 5 but instead of setting their feet 

8* 



^06 JOt'RKAL 

on shore, (licy are now sent off to leave tlieli* bones in 
Anierifii, wiihoiit a moment's notice of their destination. 

June 30th, 1811-. Early in this month three men con- 
cealed tliemselvcs in the water tank, through the coTiniv- 
ance of the corporal of the guard, and so escaped from 
prison. More vosild have gone off by the same convey- 
an*'c. had not one of the fugitives written an ironical let- 
ter to the commander, thanking him for his tenderness, 
humanity and extreme kindness, and foolishly acquainting 
him with the method he took to effect his escape ; and this 
led to his re-capture. Another fellow had the address to 
conceal himself in an old worn out copper, that was sent 
to the dock to be exchanged for a new one. This man got 
safe out of the copper, but he found himself as bad off iri 
the dock as in the prison ship. After roving and ramb- 
ling around the dock, he was taken up by the guard, and 
iiither than be sent on board a man of war, he confessed 
that he had broke out of the prison ship ; and he was im- 
mediately brought back to his former companions. 

A rage exi-ts for cutting holes through the wood work 
and copper of the ship ; but no one has succeeded in es- 
cajjing through them. The holes were always discovered 
as the men were readv to enter the breach, which led us 
lo suspect that we have secret informers among our crew, 
perhaps some Irish, Dane, or Dutchman, 

A most daring attempt to escape was made on board 

l]»e commodore's siiij), the Irresistible, by four American 

prisoners. It is worth relating for its boldness ; for it 

was iii the open day, when all eyes were upon them. The 

jolly-boat lay near the stairs, with her oars in, under the 

♦rare of a sentry. Notwithstanding she was thus guarded, 

four brave Americans resolved to seize her in spite of 

musketry, and row on shore, and run for it. One of thetn 

was from Rhode Island, being an Indian of the Narragan- 

set tribe; he was a man of lar^e stature and remarkable 

^trengtli: and it was agreed that he should lead the way, 

in the bold enterprize.' This stout man, whose name I 

wish I could remember, saw, as he thought, a favorable 

tmomcnt, and went down the side of the ship, followed by 

three others ; he seized the sentry, and, in a moment, dis- 

nrmrd him, and threw him into the jollv-boat, which was 

h«l..w the stageing, wher- the sentinel' was placed. He 

»njtn.ediatcly Jumped in after him, the other three ciQ|eI^ 



JOURNAL. lOj 

following lilni, ^vlien they instantly pushed off, snatched 
up the oars, and rowed direct lor the shore, with the aj^il- 
ity of so many Nantucket whalemen. The rapidity and 
complete eft'ect with which all this was done, was aston- 
ishin;^ to the British. They Mere, however, soon fired 
upon by ail the sentries, who had any chance of reaching, 
them, from all the ships as they passed. They 2;ot out 
their numerous boats with all speed, and placed in the bow 
of each as many marines as could well stand, and these 
kept up a continued fire of musketry upon the four fugi- 
tives in the joliy-boat, ballasted with a British prisoner. 
Notwithstanding the close and heavy firing, they wound- 
ed but one of the four; so tiiat three of them were able to 
run for it when the boat reached the shore. As soon as 
thev sat foot on sliore, thev made directly for tlie fields. 
The marines soon followed, firing every few moments up- 
on tliem, but without hitting them. Our men so complete- 
ly distanced them, that we all thought they would make 
their escape from his majesty's marines ; and they would 
have effected it, had not the country people poured out of 
the farm-houses, and the brick-yards. In a few minutes 
the fields appeared covered with people. They outran 
the marines, and pursued our brave adventurers «o closely 
from all points, tbat they exhausted them of breath, and 
iairly run them down, all except the nervous Indian, and 
he did honor to the Narragiinset tribe, and his brave an- 
cestors, so renowned in New Kngland history.* We saw 
him from the Crown Prince prison ship, skipping over the 
ground like a buck, and defying his pursuers ; but unfor- 
tunately for this son of the forest, he sprained his ancle 
in leaping a fence, which compelled him to surrender ; 
otherwise he might have ran on to London, in fair chace, 
before they could have come up with liim. 

While sitting on the ground, and unable to walk, by 
reason of his dislocated bone, the country people ap- 
proached him with caution. They did not think it quite, 
safe to come close up to a man of his extraordinary stat- 
ure and commanding aspect. He was, however, soon sur- 
rounded by a large number of marines, who had the great 
honor of recapturing a lame Indian, and conducting hini 
back again to his Britannic majesty's fleet of three deck-* 
ers, at anchor oS'his royal dock of ChathacQ 1 

^ See Dr. Holmw' 4n;ials. 



jj$ JOURNAL, 

We made several attempts to i^ain our liberty wliile ly- 
iiin-intlio river Meilway ; but none of our darinp; ieats 
e<|mAlle(l tl»is of the In-lian We ^ave him the nam- of 
]i(ir>n Trencli, and prt.nuuneed him his superior; for he 
hud to pass the fire of several ships ; and the jolly-boat ap- 
peared to be surrounded in a shower of shot, and yet only- 
one man was wounded in the leg. When the Indian had 
made the fields, aud was aseendina; the rising ojround. all 
the prisoners in our ship gave him tliree cheers. We 
cheered him as he eanie along hack in the boat with his 
comrades, and drank their healtlis in the first liquor we 
obtained. It is for deeds of bravery, and indications of a 
commanding mind, and superior strength and agility of 
body, that our aboriginals in North America appoint their 
kin^-s: and certainlv there is more sense and reason in it, 
than making the son a king, because his father was king. 
This Indian was, by nature, a commander. 

It was, be sure, an extraordinary sight, mixed with 
something of the ludicrous — to see three white Americansk 
an«l one Indian, with a disarmed British red-coat under 
their feet, in the jolly-boat, not daring to raise his head, 
while about thirty boats, with above 250 seamen, and 
nearly as many marines, were rowing, and puffing and 
blo\>ing, and firing and loading, and loading and firing at 
a small boat, containing three American seamen and one 
Indian, without any weapon or instrument, except the oars 
they rowed with. While the British marines were ruff- 
ling the water around the flying boat with their bullets, 
Ave, on board the prison ships, sensible of their danger, 
fell as much interest, and probably more appreliension, 
llnui the fugitives themselves. It was an anxious period 
of hope, fear and animating pride, which sometimes petri- 
fied us into silence, and then caused us to rend the air \^ ith 
aeelamations, and clapping of hands. The Indian, was, 
however, the hero of the piece. We saw, and admired 
his energetic mind, his abhorrence of captivity, and his 
irrciistihlf^ love of freedom. This fellow was not, proba- 
bly, at all below some of the Grecian captains, who went 
to the siege of Troy : and he only wanted the advantages 
ol rdiiciition, and of modern discipline, to have become a 
dit^lingiiishcd commander. The inspiring love of liberty 
Mus all the theme, after the daring exploit of our coun- 
tryintn, and it made as uneasy and stimulated ii§ to CO?: 



JOURNAL. 109 

template similar acts of hardihood. We had now become 
pretty nearly tired of cutting holes throiig;h the ship's bot- 
tom and sides, for it was always detected, and we were 
made to pay for repairing the damagf? out of our provis- 
ions. After seeing what four men could effect, our thoughts 
turned more upon a general insurrection than upon the 
partial escapes of a few. We perceived, clearly enough, 
that our keepers dreaded our enterprising spirit ; and we 
could discover that they knew that we despised them, and 
ridiculed them. Some of our saucy boys, studying aritli- 
snetic, with their slates and pencils in their hands, would 
say out loud, as if stating a sum, '* if it took 330 British 
seamen and marines to catch four yankees, how many Brit- 
ish sailors and marines would it take to catch ten thousand 

of us :?" 

We could perceive a general uneasiness throughout our 

ship ; even our good friend, Mr. , the worthy 

Scotchman, said to me about this time, your countrymen 
are such a restless, daring set of beings, that it it is not 
safe to befriend you, and 1 wish you were all safe and hap- 
py in your own country, and all of us at peace. A change 
of situation was foretold, but of what kind we know not; 
The next chapter will inform us all about it. 



END OF PART FIRST. 



PART SECOND. 



CHAPTER I. 



IN consequence of various attempts to escape prlsoit, 
and of the lafe daring enterprise at noon-day, the officers 
of this i;;nohle fleet of prison ships grew very uneasy. 
Ther, donhtless. felt that tliere was neither honor nor 
j)leasure, hut much danger in this sort of service. It was 
oftpt) said among them, that they felt perfectly safe when 
they liad several thousand French prisoners under their 
charge. These lively people passed tlieir time in little in- 
genious manufactures, and in gaming, and seemed to wait 
jiaticntly until their day of liberation should come; hut 
these Americans, said they, are the most restless, contriv- 
ing set of men we ever saw ; their amusement seems to 
he contriving how to escape, and to plague their keepers. 
They seem to take a pleasure in making us uneasy, and in 
exciting oHr apprehensions of their escape, and tlien they 
Iaii2:h and make themselves merry at our anxiety. One 
of the (iflicers said that the American prisoners had sys- 
Tenmlised the art of tormenting. There is a sort of mis- 
rhicvous humor among our fellows, that is, at times, rath- 
er |)rov(»kiug, to olficers habituated to prompt obedience, 
and a «lislance and deference bordering upon awe, which 
our i-f)iintrymen never feel for any man. 

li Hcems that the British government, or the admiralty 
'h jmrtuutit, werr' fully acquainted with this st.ite of things 
■ :il uilh the diiricult'task which the miserable olVicers of 
this miscnilde M( dway lle-t had to perform. 'the gov- 
ernment di<! not si'em to wish to exercise a greater de<J'ree 
ttf ri.^(.r over the American prisoners, because they knew, 
ft'; I all K'irope knew, that the United States treat» d Their 
nrwoners with distin-'iished humanitv : and yi f th^y firm- 
ly hcheved, thiit unless more rigor was e'xercised, the 



JOURNAL. - lit 

Americans would rise upon their keepers before the win- 
ter coaimeneed. 

The rumor is, that we are to be sent to Dartmoor prison. 
Some of our crew have lately received a letter froui a ]>ris- 
oner in that depot of misery, for such he describes it. He 
tells US that it is situated in the most dreary and uuculti- 
vated s!)of in Kno'laud : and that to the sterility of the soil 
are added tise black coloring of superstition. 

A Jioor^ a word not used in America, is used in Enf*-- 
land (o denote a low, marshy piece of ground, or a sterile 
spot, like our pine barren's, divested of every thing like a 
pine tree. It denotes somethiiii^ between a beach and a 
meadow. It is a solemn faced truth in tins country of our 
superstitious ancestors, that every extensive and dreary 
moor, in England, is haunted by troubled ghosts, witches 
and walking dead men, visiting, in a sociable way, each 
other's graves. It is really surprising, and to an intelli- 
gent American, incredible, that stout, hearty, and other- 
wise bold Englislimen^ dare not walk alone over the drea- 
ry spot, or moor, where the prison now stands, in a dark 
and cloudy night, without trembling with horror, at a 
7iothi'.\:^ ! Beside the stories of witches flying about in the 
air, and dead men strolling over Ihe r.ioor, the letter con- 
tained an account of the origin of this new famous prison. 
It stated that this Dartmoor belonged to that beautiful 
gambler, the Dutchess of Devonshire,* who lost it in a 
game of hazard with the Prince of '\\ ales, who, to enhance 
the value of it, (he being, as all the world knows, a con- 
triving, speculating, economical, close fisted, miserly gen- 
ius) contrived to have erected there a species of a fortress, 
enclosing seven very large buildings, or prisons, for the 
reception of captured seamen; from which establishment 
its royal landlord received a very handsome annual rent; 
and this princely anecdote is as firmly believed as the sto- 
ries of the witches, and the walking dead men. The only 
remark we would make upon it here, is, that Durtmoorha^ 
a dismal idea associated with it — and that was sufficient 
to make our people conceive of it as a place doleful as a 
coal-pit. 

Not long after the receipt of this letter, one hundred and 

* The letter writer, we suspect, had not studied, carefully, the laws and 
customs of England, where all landed property belongs to the king, who 
allows the eldest male of a family to possess it during his good behavior. 



112 



JOURNAL. 



fifiy of our conntnnien were sent off by water, to this 
JJa'rImuor Vr'num ^ biif the measles appearing among 
tliem, ll»ey were stopped at the JS'^uve^ which is at the en- 
tranc of l*he 'I'lianies. They are every day draflina; more, 
whii h are desliiied for the dismal prison iiouse. N^ e are 
all ^lrllck wiili horror at the idea of our removal from our 
sliips in the river Medsvay, which runs through a beauti- 
ful country. It is " the uutried scene," that fills us with 
dread. *' for clouds and darkness rest upon it." Last 
year we were trnnsported from inhospitable Xova Scotia, 
over the l)oisterous Atlantic, and suffered incredible hard- 
sliips in a ronj^h winter passage ; and now we are to be 
Jaunched again on tlie same tumultuous ocean, to go four 
hundred miles coast-wise, to the most dismal spot in Eng- 
land. >Vho will believe it } the men who exercised all 
their art aijd contrivance, and exerted all their muscular 
powers to cut through the double plankings and copper of 
a ship of the line, in hopes of escaping from her, now leave 
the same shij> with regret. 1 have read of men wlio had 
been injprisoned many years in the Bastile, w lio, when lib- 
erated, sio'hed In return to tlieir place of long confinement, 
and felt unhappy out of it. I thought it wondrous strange; 
btit 1 now cease to be surprised. This prison-ship, through 
long hahit, and the dread of a worse place, is actually 
viewed with feelings of attachment. Of the hundred men 
wlio were .sent hither last year, from Halifax, there are 
only about seventy of us remaining on hoard the Crown 
IViuce. The next draft will lesseri our numbers, and 
separate some of those who have been long associates in 
honda'^^e. It is not merely the bodily inconvenience of 
being iransjiorted here and there, that we dread, so much 
as the exposure to insult and sarcasm of onr enemies. We 
have been, and still dread to be again placed in rows, on 
board of a ship, or in a piison yard, to be stared at by the 
UriliNh vul«!:;tir, ju.sl as if we were Guinea negroes, ex- 
poju'd to the examination of some scoundrel negro mer- 
clmntH, commissioned to re -stock a plantation with black 
rattle, capuble of thinking, talking, laughing and weep- 
ing. 'I'hin is not all. We have been obliged often to en- 
dure speeches of this sort, most commonly uttered in the 
Hcntch ar.ont— »' My life on't that fellow is a renegado 
KnrliOiman— or Irishman— an halter will be, I hopf:^, liis 
p'jjhon. D—n all such rebel lookins: rascals." Whatev- 



JOURNAL. 113 

er o!ir fcelinsrs arid reseiUmeiits may be on aceoiiiit of im- 
pressnuMtt. iniiusTiiin treahneut, and pluMueriii^ ojsr lobs 
and pockets, iiiiii of our clothing, we never speak of t!ie 
Brihsih king and government in terms of gross indecency : 
whereas, we American prisoners of war, are often assailed 
witli the bitterest sarcasms and curses of the President of 
the United States, the Congress, and some of our military 
commanders. 

I have already mentioned that all my family, as well 
as myself, were what tiiey called " Federalists," or fault- 
finders, and opposers of Madison's administration ; and 
that I, and all tiie rest of us, dropt every trait of federal- 
ism in the British prisons, where, to call a man a Feder- 
alist, was resented as the deepest insult. 1 appeal to all 
my companions in misery, for the accuracy of this opin- 
ion. A man who is willing to expose his life to the balls 
and bayonets of his country's foes, to the enemies of his 
government, and to the independence and union of his na- 
tion, holds his country and the government of his choice, 
in higher estimation than his life. Such a man cannot 
liear the United States, and their President, spoken of in 
terms of contempt, without feeling the keenest anguisii. 
This I have felt, and have remarked its effects in the 
countenances of my insulted comrades. Situated asvveare, 
it would be great imprudence to resent what we are often 
obliged to hear. Captivity, under British prison keepers, 
and British captains of transport men of war, are the. 
proper colleges for teaching the love of our repiiblicau 
government, and strong attachment to its administration ; 
and they are proper places to make the rankest federal- 
ist abjure his errors, and clins: to the constituted authori- 
ties of the country whose flag lie adores, and for whose 
defence he exposes his life. It is inconceivable how closely 
we are here pressed together in the cause of our <lear conn- 
try, and in honor of its high officers. Were all the in- 
habitants of the United States as unanimous in their po- 
litical sentiments, as >ve are, in the river Medway, they 
would all be ready to exclaim, each man to his neighbour, 

Rouse, and revive your ancient glory, 
Unite — and drive the world before you. 

Jit??/ ls^ 1S13— Our feelings are all alive at this joy- 
ous season, for we are now making preparations for cele- 
10 



J I I . JOURNAL. 

Iiniling the bii lli-day of our nation ; and though in eap- 
tivitVjNve are ileterniined not to suffer the glorious Fourth 
uf July to pass over without testifying our undivided at- 
iiichment to our beloved country, and to the cause it is 
fi.-hling for. Each mess are making arrangements in, be- 
Mue, a small aud humble, but a hearty way, for the cele- 
hratiwn : and it is a curious spectacle, to see the pleas- 
nrcnblc' anlicipulions of the prisoners in a feast of good 
thini;-9, all of which would not amount to so plentiful a re- 
past? as that which the criminals in our State Prison, near 
iioston, enjoy every day, the plenty of good porter except- 
ed. Application has been made to* Capt Hutchinson, for 
an additional allowance of beer and porter, which request 
he has grauted, w ith his usual goodness. Every brain is 
at work to know how to spend what we have been accu- 
mulating for the Fourth of July, with the most pleasure 
and the most propriety. 

The Fourth of July, 1813, is past We petitioned the 
commander to allow us to hoist the American flag, but he 
refused to gratify us. Application was then made to the 
Comuiodore, who gave permission that we might hoist our 
national colors, as high as the top of our railings ; and 
the same permission was granted to all the other prison- 
ships. \Vc had obtaiued a drum and tife ; and being all 
assembled on the forecastle, and such other parts of the 
bliip as were accessible to us, prisoners, we in the morning 
stni»'k up the animating tune of Tankee Doodle^ and sa- 
luted the Nassau prison-ship with three cheers, vvliich 
was returned ; the ships more distant caught the joyful 
sound, and echoed it back to its source The tife and 
drum, (be latter ornamented with the king's arms, played 
the uliole forenoon, while the jovial prisoners drank, in 
h!n<^lisli porter, Success to the American cause ! 

At twelve o'clock, an Oration, hastily prepared, and 
ratber too inflammatory for about a tenth part of our au- 
dience, was delivered, by a prisoner of respectable talents; 
a man. who. having been imjjressed into the British ser- 
vice, had been promoted to the rank of boatswain of a 
frij^ate : and lil)eratod from the service in consequence of 
liin de<'luring it against his honor and conscience to fight 
aK:tinHt his countrymen, or aid in pulling down the colors 
ofltK nation. This man very deliberately mounted an el- 
evation, ttuU with great force, and with a characteristic 



JX)URNAL. 110 

freedom, pronounced an Address, which the prisoners list- 
ened to with profound silence, excepting the clapping of 
hands, and sometimes cheers, at the end of such sentences 
as warmed and overpowered their silence. At tlie close 
of the whole, the orator was greeted with three times 
three cheers, throughout the sliip, and reached even to the 
shores. The oratory of the boatswain seemed to electrify 
the officers and men set over us. Tiie master and the 
surgeon appeared really pleased ; even Osmer, our jailor, 
" grinn'd horribly a ghastly smile.'* 

After the Oration, we returned below to our prepared 
dinners, at which our reverend orator asked a blessing, 
with more fervor than is commonly observed in our ('os- 
sack clergymen ; and we fell to, with a zest and hilarity 
rarely to be found among a large collection of prisoners. 
If, like the captive Jews on the Euphrates, we had hung 
our harps upon the willows of the Medway, we took them 
down on this joyous occasion. We felt the spirit of free- 
dom glow within us ; and we anticipated the day when 
we should celebrate our anniversary in that dear land of 
liberty, which we longed to see, and panted after, as the 
thirsty hart pants after the water brooks. 

The Fourth of July was celebrated in a very hecomin«' 
manner, on board the Nassau prison-ship, by similar acts 
of rejoicing. I have obtained a copy of the Oration, de- 
livered by a seaman, on that day. Among the audience, 
were several ladies and gentlemen from the neighborhood. 

AN ORATION, 

Delivered hy permission^ on board thi> JVassau prison-ship^ 
at Chatham J England^ hy an American Seaman, irrisoner 
of war. 

MY FELLOV/ PRISONERS, AND BELOVED COUNTRYMEN, 

We are assembled to comme;norateth3t ever memorable Fourth of July, 
1776, when our forefathers, inspired with the love of liberty, dared to d/- 
vest themselves of^the shackles of tyranny and oppression ; yes, ray friends, 
on that important day these stripes were hoisted on the standard of liberty , 
as a signal of unity, and of their determination to fight under them unt il 
America was numbered among the nations of the globe, as one of them, a 
iree and independen' nation. Yes, my countrymen, she was determined 
to spare neither blood nor treasure, until she had accomplished the grand 
objfct of her intentions; an object, my friends, v,'hich she was prompted 
by Heaven to undertake, and insp/red by all that honor, justice, and patri- 
otism could infuse ; her armiei Were then in the field, w^ith a Washing]- 



lie JOURNAL. 

TON al thtir head, whose upright conduct and valorous deeds you have 
often heard reldtcd, and the memory of whom should be held sacred in the 
breaita of every true-born American. — Let his heart beat high at the name 
cf Washington ! Sacred as the archives of leaven ! for he was a man of 
truth, honor, and Integrity, and a soldier fostered by the gods to be the sa- 
\iour of his country. 

Tlic struggle was long, and arduous ; but our rallying word was, " Lib- 
erty oi Death!" Torrents of blood were spilt; towns and villages were 
burnt, and nothing but havoc, devastation and destruction was seen from 
one end of the continent to the other ; and this was not all ; but, to com- 
p!cte the horrid scene, an infernal horde of savage murderers was prompt- 
ed by our enemy to butcher our helpless wives and children! Then did 
cur fathers' patriotic hearts swell in their bosoms, and they were ten-fold 
more resolved to break the yoke of the tyrant. 

I Iff ite these things, my countrymen, that you may know how to prize 
vour liberty, that precious gem for which your fathers fought, wading in 
livers of blood, until it plensed the Almighty to crown their av'rs with suc- 
cess ; and, glorioosto relate, America was acknowledged free and independ- 
ent by all the powers of Europe. Happy period ! then did our warriors 
^■xult in what they had so nobly achieved ; then commerce revived, and the 
thirteen stripes were hoisted upon the tall masts of our ships, and displayed 
from pole to pole; emigrants flocked from many parts to taste our free- 
dom, and other blessings heaven had bestowed upon us; our population 
increased to an incredible degree ; our commerce flourished, and our coun- 
try has been the scat of peacc; plenty and happmess for many years At 
length the fatal blast reached our land ! America was obliged to unsheaih 
the sword in justification of her violated rights. Our ships were captured 
and condemned upon frivolous pretensions; oar seamen were dragged 
from their lawful employment; they were torn from the bosom of their 
btlovcd country; sons fr>m their fathers ; husbands from their wives and 
luildren, to serve v.'ith reluctance for many years, under the severity of a 
martial la-v. The truth of this many of you can attest to, perhaps with in- 
ward pining and a bleeding heart ! 

My countrymen ! I did not mount this rostrum to inveigh against the 
British; only the demagogues, the war-faction I exclaim against. We all 
know, and that full well, that there are many honest, patriotic men in this 
country, who would raise their voices to succour us, and their arms too, 
fould they do it with impunity. The sympathetic hearts of the good, feel 
for the oppressed in all climes. And now, my countrymen, it is more 
t'lan probable that the land of your nativity will be involved in war, and 
tieluged in blood for come time to come; yes, my friends, that happy coun- 
try, wl ich is the guardian of everything you possess, that you esteem, near 
:• id dear, has a'^ain to struggle for her liberty. The British war-faction ars 
1 ashuig upon us with theii fleets and armies, thinking, perhaps, to crush us 
inn moment. Strange infatuation 1 They have forgotten Bunker's Hill ! 
'I'htV have lorgotten Saratoga, and Yorktown, when the immortal Wash- 
ington with his victorious army chased them through the Jerseys, under 
ihc muzzles of their ship's cannon for protection ! They have forgotten 
t'lial the sons of America have as good blood in their veins, and possess as 
»rjund limb* and nerves as they; strange infatuation! I repeat it, if they 
presume to think that eight millions of free people will be very easily di- 
vcitcd of llieir liberty; my word for it, they will not give up at the sight 
of their rren-of-war or their red coats; no, my frieiids, they wil! meet the 
ladi v»ho will pisy ihtm the tune of yankee doadle, as well as they did at 



jeURNAL, 11 



Lexington, or Bunker Hill. Besides, my countrymen, there is a plant in 
that country, (very little of which grows any where else,) the infusion £ 
w^ic^ stimulates the true sons of Ainerica to deeds of valour. There is 
something so fostering in the very sound of its name, that it holds superior- 
ity wherever it grows; it is a sacred plant, my friends, its name is liber- 
ty, and may God grant that that plant may continue to grow in the United 
States of America, and never be rooted out so long as it shall please Him to 
continue the celestial orb to roll in yon azure expanse, ^ , 

Ah! Britons! Britons! had vour counsellors been just, and had fhey lis- 
tened with attention, and followed the advice of the immortal *WiUiam Pitfy 
Britain and America might have been one until the present houi ; and they, 
united, in time might have given laws to the inhabitants of this terrestrial ball. 

Many of you, my friends, have voluntarily embraced this loathsome pris- 
on rather th?n betray your country; for by the laws of your country, to 
aid or give any assistance to an enemy, is treason, is punishable with death. 
1 therefore hope that your country will reward you abundantly for you c 
toil. And one and all let us embrace the icy arms of death, rather than 
cherish the least symptoms of an inclination to betray our country. Some 
have done it^ who "have pretended to be Americans, so far as to shield them- 
selves under the name. Whether they were real Americans or not, is hard 
for me to say ; but if they were, they have put their hand to the plough* 
and not only looked back, but have gone back. 1 have not the least doubt 
but they will meet their reward ; that is, they will be spurned at by those 
very people that laid the bait for them. Such characters will for ever be 
condemned, and held in detestation by both parties. Therefore all you 
who feel the tide of true American blood flow through your hearts, I hope 
never will attempt to flee from the allegiance of your country. It is cow- 
ardice, it is felony ; and for all those who have done it, we may pray that 
the departed spirits of their fathers, who so nobly fought, bled, and fell in 
the conflict to gain them their liberty, will haunt them in their midnight 
slumbers, and that they may feel the horrors of conscience and the dread 
of a gallows ! also, that they may have no rest, but like the dove that Noali 
sent out of the ark, be restless until they return to the allegiance of their 
country. And now, my countrymen, let us join in unison to correct our 
own morals ; let us be sober, let us be vigilant over ourselves while in this 
situation. And although it is not in our power to assist our countrymen 
in the present conflict, yet if we are good the power of Heaven will fight 
for us ; for the good must merit God's peculiar care. The powers of Hea- 
ven fought for us ; they assisted us to gain our liberty, it is evident from 
the very circumstance, that in our struggle with Great Britain for our lib- 
erty, we had no navy, or none of any consequence, yet Great Bntam lost 
more line of battle ships in that war than she did with France, although 
France is a great naval power. And we should be thankful to God for all 
the blessings he hath bestowed upon us from time to time, and in particu- 
lar for the blessings of that unity which we are recently informed prevails 
among our countrymen in America ; united they stand, nor will the pow- 
ers of he'l be able to overthrow them. And m-w let us appeal to the God 
of Sabaoth, that is, the God of armies — let us appeal to Htm who holds the 
balaace, and weighs the events of Wattles and of realms, and by his decision 
w« must abide. And may He grant us health, peace and u<;ity in this our 
disagreeable situation; and let us all join in concord to praise the Rulec 
and Governor of the universe. Amen, Amcu. 

* The celebrated Earl of Chatham. 

10* 



as JOURNAL. 

Amonj^ the sonpjs simp; on this occasion, were several 
fninposed l» seiihiriii-' people, in our own country. The 
followino: 'I'rew tears from the eyes of our j^enerous heart- 
ed sailor's. It pathetically describes what many of theni 
hud experienced, the impressment of an American sailor 
boy, by a British man of war, the tearing up of his legal 
jjrutection, and of his sinking under a broken heart. It 
waswrilteu by Mr. Juhn JJe Wolfe, of Rhode Island. 

The Imjrressment of an American Sailor Boy, 

A SONG, 

fiiuuiZ on hoard the British prison-ship, Croivn Prince, the 
Fmirth of July, 1S13, by a number of the American 
jirisoners. 

The youthful Sailor mounts the bark, 

And bids each weeping friend adieu i 
Pair blows the gale, the canvass swells; 

Slow sink the uplands from his %'ie\^r. 

Three mornings, from his ocean bed, 

Resplendent beams the God of day ; 
The fourth, high looming in the mist, 

A war-ship's floating banners play. 

Her yawl is launch'd ; light o'er the deep, 

Too kind, she wafts a ruffian band ; 
iler blue track lengthens to the bark. 

And soon on deck the miscreants stand; 

Around they throw the baleful glance ; 

Suspense holds mute the anxious crewj— ^ 

IVho is iheir |)rcy ? — poor sailor boy I 
The baleful glance is fix'd on you. 

'Nay, why that useless scrip unfold ? 

Thi-y damn the '■^ lyivg yankee scrawl^" 
TornTrom thine hand, it strews the wave, 

Tlicy force thee, trembling, to the yawl. 

Sick was thine heart, as from the deck, 

The hand of friendship wav'd farewell ; 
Wad was ihy brain, as, far behind, 
In the gr»;y mist, thy vessel fell. 

One hope, yet, to thy bosom clung, 
The captain mercy might impart ; 
'■"■ was that hope, which bade thee look 
; mticy in a Pirate's heart. 



XOURNAL. ilO 

What vvocscan man on man inflict, 

When malice joins witli uncheck'd pow'r ; 

Such woes, unpitieci and unknown, 
For many a month, the sailor bore. 

Oft gem'd his eye the bursting tear, 

As mem'ry linger'd on past joy ; 
As oft they flung the cruel jeer, 

And damn'd the " chicken-liver'd boy." 

When sick at heart, with ■ hope dcferr'd," 

Kind sleep his wasting form embrac'd, 
Some ready mjniou ply'd the lash, 
And the lov'd dream of freedom chac'dj 

Tast to an end his miseries drew ; 

The deadly hectic flush'd his cheek ; 
On his pale brow the cold dew hung, 

He sigh'd, and sunk upon the deck-! 

The sailor's woes drew forth no sigh i '\ 

No hand would close the sailor's eye 5 
Remorseless, his pale corps they gave, 
Unshrouded, to the friendly wave. 

And, as he sunk beneath the tide, 

A hellish shout arose ; 
Exukingiy the demons cried, 

*' So fare all Albion's Kzsztfoei /'* 



The power of music and of song, on siicli oceasioiT?* 
has been witnessed in all ages of the world, especially in 
he youthful, or ehivalric period of a nation's existence, 
\vhich is t!i8 present time, in the history of the ITnited 
States. We all have felt and witnessed the animating ef- 
fects of the simple national tune of Yankee Doodle. Our 
New England boys cannot stand still when it is played. 
To tiiat tune our regiments march with an energy that no 
other music inspires. At its sound, the sentinel on his 
post slioulders his musket, and marches his limits with a 
smartness, that shows that his brave heart pulsates to the 
warlike drum. Such a people, thus animated and united, 
is absolutely invincible, by all tlie powers of Europe com- 
bined. 

Time, situation and circumstances, will give us national 
songs. Many ages passed away, before England was ani- 
mated by a national hymn. The Americans have paro- 
died this hymn, substituting, " God save great fVasnin^- 



if 

j2tf * JOURNAL. 

Our orator, considerin-^ where he was, and that he had 
an hmulrtMl Hrilish hearers, used pretty harsh lau^UAge. 
He apostrophiseil the English thus ; " Haughty nation I 
wilh one hand thou art (leludina; and dividing thy viciiras 
in New En-^land, and with the other, (hou bearest the 
weapon of venu^eance; and while employins^ the ruthful 
sa\a<;e, with his tomahawk and scalping knife, thou art 
ho:isl]ni!:«>i'thy humanity, thy ma2;nanimity, and thy reli- 
gion ! Bloody villains I* detestable associates ! linked to- 
i;ether by fear, and leai^ued with savages by necessity, to 
murder a christian people, for the alledged crime of ti<;'it- 
in£^ over a2;ain (he battle of independence. Beware, b};>ody 
iKitions of Britons and savage Indians, of the recoiling 
vengeance of a brave people. For shame — 'talk no more 
of ^our Christianity, of your bible and missionary societies, 
when your only aim is lo direct the scalping knife, and 
give force to the arm of the savage. No longer express 
the smile of pleasure, on hearing a stupid Governor pro- 
claim you to be " The Bulwark of our Religion P'' You 
have tilled India with blood and ashes ; you have murder- 
ed the Irish for contending for liberty of conscience ; you 
continue the scourge of war in Spain ; you pay Russia, 
Sweden, Germany and Holland, the price of blood ; and to 
crown all, di'corate your colors, and your seats of legisla- 
tion, with scalps, torn from Americans, male and female ; 
and you are sowing discord, and ditFusing a Jacobinical 
spirit through a proteslant country, which you cannot con- 
quer by force. But. (continued the orator, waving his sin- 
euy arm, and hard and heavy hand,) the time is not far dis- 
tant, w hen your guilty nation will be duly appreciated, and 
justly punishi'd ;*' and saying this, he drove his iron fist 
into the palm of his left hand, and stamped with his foot 
on the capstan, where he sto«>d, while his admiring coun- 
try men rewarded the herculean orator with tikree cheers. 

There is no disguising it. these Englishmen not only re- 
spect us. but fear us. 'I'hey perceive a mighty difference 
^between us, and the cringing, gambling Frenchmen. If 
they arc tolerably well informed, and think at all, they 
most conclude that we Yankees, are filled with, and keep 
M[> ibat bold and daringspirit of liberty, which made Eng- 
land w hat she is. and the loss of which is now perceived by 
their surreiiderejl ships and beaten armies in America. 
All ihtse things will hereafter be detailed by some future 



JOURNAL. 121 

Gibbon, in the history of the Decline and Fall of the Brit- 
ish Empire. 

A e closed the day, on this memorable fourth of July, 
pretty much as we began it; we struck our flag at sun set 
and saluted the other sliips with three hearty cheers. 
Throughout tlie whole, the prisoners, even to the boys, be- 
liaved wiih becoming decorum, and the whole was con- 
cluded witiiout any disagreeable accident, or any thing like 
a quarrel; and in saying this, we desire to acknowledge 
tht extraordinary Gjood behaviour of all the British officers 
and men on board the Crown Prince. 

Excepting the apprehensions of being sent off to Dart- 
moor prison, of which we entertained horrid ideas, we 
were tolerably happy. After the measles ceased, we 
%vere all very healthy; and there exists a go(»d under- 
standing between the prisoners and our commander, Os- 
more ; which they say, is owing to the influence of his 
amiable wife. This worthy woman has discovered that 
we are not a gang of vagabonds, but that many of the 
American prisoners are not only men of solid understand- 
ing, and correct principles, but men whose minds have 
been improved by good education. The manner ajul style 
in which we celebrated our national independence, have 
created a respect for us. The oiticers extend a better 
course of treatment towards us, and this has occasioned 
our treating them with more respect. Politeness gener- 
ates politeness, and insult, insult. They find tiiat coax- 
ing and fair words is the only way to manage Americans, 

There is a set of busy-idlers among us, a sort of news- 
mongers, fault-finders, and predictors, who are continual- 
ly bothering* us with unsubstantial rumors. The news- 
papers V, e take, are enough to confound any man ; but 
these creatures are worse than the London news-writers. 
Sometimes we are told that Baltimore is burnt ; and then 
that New-York is taken ; and we have been positively 
assured that old New-England has declared for the Brit- 
ish ; and that the governor of Massachusetts and his 
council had dined on board a British man of war in Bos- 
ton harbor; and that president Madison had been hansjed 
in eiligy in Boston,' New!)uryport, and Portsmoufi. it 
other times we were told positively, and 'ircumstatitially, 

*An Irish word, meaning a distraftion of attention by reason of Vi'oras 

Striking our iatellcft through h^'i ears confusedly. 



i22 J0XJRNAL. 

that tlirce frigjafes sent their boats into Marblehead, and 
after tirivinii; out all the women and children, set fire to 
the town, and reduced the whole to ashes; and this was 
for some time credited. We have a number of fine Mar- 
bleheud men here in captivity, all staunch friends of their 
country's cause. I well remember since that period, that 
it was told Us, that peace between America and En^^land 
was concluded, and that one of its conditions was giving 
up the fisheries on the banks of Newfoundland This 
alarmed the Marblehead men more than the report of burn- 
ing their town ; they raved and swore like mad men. '^ If 
that be the case,'* said they, " 1 am damned — Marblehead 
is forever damned, and we are all damned; and damnation 
seize the peace-makers, who have consented to this con- 
dition." On this subject they worked themselves into a 
fever, and were very unhappy all the time the story was 
believed. Such like stories were told to us, oft times, so 
circumstantially, that we all believed them. When dis- 
covered to be false, they were called galley -news or galley 
packets. These mischievous characters are continually 
sporting with our feelings, and secretly laughing at the 
uneasiness they occasion. There is one man who has got 
the name of lying Bub ; who is remarkable for the fertili- 
ty of his invention ; there is so much apparent correctness 
in all he advances. Ho mentions and describes the man 
who informed him, states little particulars, and relates 
circumstances so closely connected with acknowledged 
i'acU, that the most cautious and incredulous are often tak- 
en in i)y him. He is a constitutional liar, and the fellow 
has such a plausible mode of lying, and wears througliout 
such a fixed and solemn phiz, that his news has been cir- 
culated by us all, with all our wise reasons, and explana- 
tions, and conjectures, that although we are sometimes 
angry enough to knock his brains out, we cannot help 
laughing at the hoax. To the name of lying Bob, we 
liave added that of " Printer to Prince Belzebub^s Royal 
Gazf^ttt^." 

Thi'i little community of ours, crowded within the 
planks ol' a single ship, is but the prototype of the grf^at 
communities on the land. Here we see working, all those 
passii.ns, hopes, f'ars. emulations, envies, and even <?on- 
trmlons for distinction, which, like the winds and tides of 
the ocean, keep the human mind healthy, vigorous, and 



JOURNAL. 12S 

progressing to general benefit. Amidst it all, we eould 
tiiscover ^' tfie ruling j^assion,'^^ the love of coiintry, and a 
iir»n belief that our countrymen understood rational liber- 
ty better, and could defend it longer, than any nation now 
in existence. 

Many people are beguiled with an idea, that sailors 
have HO serious thoughts of r^lis^ion, because they use 
swearing, and, too often, a profane pisraseology, without 
any meaning. But seamen generally have as serious 
ideas of religion, as landsmen ; and are, in my opinion, 
full as good. Hypocrisy is not amo!ig their vices. They 
never pretend to more religion than their conduct pro- 
claims. You see and hear the worse of tliem, and that 
cannot always be said of our brel!iren on shore. We have 
had a methodist preacher exhorting us twice a week, until 
lately; but lie has discontinued his visits; for he found 
the hearts of some of our feilows as hard as their fa^es, 
and he relinquLshed the hepe of their conversion to melh- 
odism. There was, at one time, on board our ship, a lit- 
tle, ugly French surgeop.'s mate, who had lived several 
years in London, and in the southern part of \rneriea. He 
could speak and read the <<ing!isi» language equally well 
with his own. He ridiculed all religion, and talked in 
such an irreverent style of the hible, of Jesus Christ, and'* 
of the Virgin Mary, that our sailors would not associate 
with him, nor, at times, to eat with him. On one occasion 
his profanity was so shocking, that he ran some risk of be- 
ing thrown overboard. He was a witty, comical fellow, 
and they would listen and laugh at his drollery ; but they 
finally stopped his mouth from uttering things, for which 
he would be severely punished in Kngland and in \merica. 

Generally speaking, in the religious notions of our sail- 
ors, there is mixed a portion of that superstition which we, 
our forefathers, and foremothers brought with them fiom 
England. Scotland and Ireland. They believe, for exam- 
ple, in spirits, or ghosts, and that they haunt houses and 
ships ; and that they have sometimes appeared wi(h hor- 
rid visage and menacing countenances, at the bed-side of 
a cruel captain : and above all, to the false, hearted Tar, 
who cruelly deserted his too credulous Poll, who drowned 
herself in despair. The common sailor often tells siich 
stories, and sings them in ballads, both which are gener- 
ally ended with the good moral sentiment of the puni^k- 



iS* 



JOURNAL. 



mciit of cruelty and treachery, ami the reward of the kind 
hearted and I'liinane. 

It mav appear sinj^ular that men whose conduct is gen- 
erally so opposite to the prescribed rules of the Priest, 
sh.iiifd have .-^o lirm an opinion of another Jife, after their 
bo(ii«-s are eaten up hy sharks, or blown to atoms ; but it 
is reallv the case with the British and American sailors, 
for thev have the strongest belief in the existence of spi- 
rits and all their stories and traditions tend to conhrm 
this superstition ilow often have 1 known them huddled 
too'cther in the night, telling stories of feats of danger 
aiiTl desj)'^rationl a ghost or spirit is generally brought in- 
to the history. Nothing suits these daring set of men 
Ijolter than a* solemn narrative of a supernatural acliieve- 
ment. and a supernatural escape ; but to be charming, it 
mast have a tinge of the horrible. Shakespeare would 
liave recoo-nized some of these men as his kindred, and 
they l»ini as a relation. Good luck and ill luck, lucky 
(lays and unlucky days, as well as lucky ships, attach 
ihtMnselves to a sailor's mind. A remarkable instauce of 
this we have in our iil fated frigate Chesapeake. Ever 
since the British ship. Leopard, tired into this American 
frigate, in a period of profound peace, and caused her to 
strike her colors, and which led to her being boarded ; 
and her men to be mustered l)y eonipiilsio'j, and some of 
licr crew taken and carried forcibly on board the Leop- 
ard, one of which was afterwards han2:ed ; after this deep 
wound on our country's honor, this frigate was ever after 
viewed as unliicki/. 

In coniirniKtion of this nautical curse, she met with a 
series of disasters during the war, which were not attrib- 
iited to ill management, but to ill luck. Thus, one time 
she was coming up the harbor of Boston, from a cruise, 
»here she lost spar after spar, and topmast after topmast; 
and when in full sight of the town, and not much wind, 
over bdurd went her fore-top-mast, and several men were 
droNMKMl in their faU from the rigging. This was not 
attributed to lack of judgment, hut to ill luck. When 
thiH ill-onuncd ship lay in Boston harbor, previous to her 
liisl and fatal cruise, she could not get men, and that from 
the impression on the minds of sailors, that she was an 
nnliicky ship. This operated to her final misfortune, for 
her crew w as made up of every thing that offered. Her 



JOURNAL. ±25 

captain ^vas a stranger to his crew, and to his o{Ticers ; 
his first lieutenant lay at the point of death when she 
sailed ; her motley crew nintinied, on account of their pay, 
hefore they weii^hed anchor ; her brave, I had like to 
liave said rash commander, sailed out in a great hurry ; 
her cables were not quite stowed away, nor other things 
arranjgjed in their places, when she bore down on the cool 
and orderly Shannon ; and to crown all, her intrepid com- 
mander, a man six feet, four inches, went into action with- 
in half pistol shot, in full uniform, as if he defied the pow- 
er of the British musketry. I have conversed with some 
of her officers and men in my captivity, and think that I 
am warranted in saying that there was much more high- 
toned bravery exhibited on that day, than good conduct. 
The sailors, however, think differently ; they all attrib- 
ute it to that unavoidable fatality which forever adheres, 
like pitch, to an unlucky ship. O, my country ! 

*' It was that fatal and perfidious bark, 

*' Built in th' eclipse, and rigg'd with curses dark, 

*' That sunk so low that sacred head of thine !" 

Milton's Lvcidasi 



CHAPTER II. 



Aiis'iist 30th. — Drafts continue to be made from this 
ship to be sent off to Dartmoor Prison. TJiere are but 
few of us remaining, and we are every day in expectation 
of removal. All go off with evident reluctance, from an 
apprehension that the change will be for the worse. It is 
the" untried scene," that fills us with anxiety. We are 
more disposed to bear our present ills, than fly to others 
which we know not of. 

Oh, how we envy the meanest looking wretch we see, 
crawling on the shore, gathering sticks to cook his fish. 
There the beggar enjoys the natural inheritance of man, 
sweet Liberty ; if the unfeeling, the avaricious and mo- 
rose, refuse his petition, he can sweeten the disappoint- 
ment with the refle* iu)n that he has liberty to .valk where 
he pleases. He is not shut up in the prime of life, and 
11 



126 



JUUWNAL 



cut nlVfrom all iiitcrof»iirsc with tliose he holds most dear; 
Ik- is Hill liii;;Trini;- t)iit iiis liCe and heaitli under the ma- 
rosc I'oinileujiuce of an unfeeliiis,' jailor. He has not. like 
MS, a liouie, where jieace, plenty and every good, await to 
Meleome us. Who ean express tlie anguish feit by some 
of us, wrctclK'd prisoners, here crowded to^-ether, like 
slieej). men ^^ !>o iiave l)roken no law of either country, 
but wiio have stood courageously forth in suppoiting the 
sacred cause of our country, and in defending -' ft-ee trade 
and sailors" r/^7//s." Should this war continue some years 
longer, or should peace be restored, and arM)ther war w ith 
Ikitain commence, I will venture to predict that our ene- 
mies will take but few prisoners cdive. My own mind is 
entirely made up on this head. 1 hope to stand ever ready 
to risking liPe for tiie liberty and independence of our 
nation, and for the preservation of my own personal lib- 
erty. 

'i'he American sailor has a beloved home; he was born 
and brought up in a house that had a " fire place" in it. 
Many of them here, in captivity, have w ives and children, 
most of them have parents, and brothers and sisters. 
These poor fellows partake, at times, the misery of their 
dear relati\es, at three thousand miles distjtnce. They 
recollect their aged mothers, and decrepid fathers, worn 
down with age, labor, and anxious thoughts for the wel- 
fare of their absent sons Some have wives, and little 
children, weeping for their absent husbands, and sufferiug 
for the good and comfortable things of this life, having 
none to hel|» them. In families, neighborhoods, and villa- 
ges, men are supported by leaning on each other ; or by 
supporting each other ; and we have endeavored to do so 
too ; but now our numbers are thin!iing, some of our best, 
our steadiest, and most prudent men, have left us, and 
gone to Dartmoor Prison. 1 have felt very low Sj)irited 
for some days past. It is true, our numbers are now so 
f « w , that we can run about, and beguile the tedious hours 
hv a greater variety of exercise and amusement than here- 
tofore ; but the!i. our soberest men are gone, aiul left be- 
hind some of the most noisy and disorderly of our whole 
crew : and young as 1 am. I am little di^j)()sed to make a 
riot (ir noise, merely for noise sake. 

A di^luibanci' took place last night, which di'])rived all 
of us of sleep. It was owing to the unaceommodatiug 



JOURNAL. 127 

i!i«ip()si(ion of our commander, Mr. Osmore. Aboiit tlsirty 
j)ri.S'!)iers were selected, and called aft, uitli their ham- 
mocks all tied up, to !)e I'eady to a;o off early in the mora- 
in£^, in a tender. The tender did not arrive as was ex- 
pected ; tlio sero'cant was ordered to count us over in the 
evenin2;, to go to rest, ^vhereupon the thirty drafted men 
Avent ai'l, and requested their hammocks to sleep in ; Mr. 
Osmore replied, that, as they were to go otf early in tlie 
morninir, ti»ev would only detain the tender, if they had 
tijeir hammocks to take down and pack up again, on \\ hich 
acco(inl he refused to let them have their usual accommo- 
dations for sleeping. The men went helow, very much 
dissatisfied at the churlish disposition of the commander; 
and as they despaired being able to sleep themselves, on 
bare boards, they all determined that Osmore should not 
sleep. Thoy waited quietly till about ten o'clock, when 
tlie commaudc'r ujiually went to bed, and then they tore 
up the large oak lieuches, tied ropes to them, and run with 
them round the deck, draw ing the benches after them like 
a sled, at the same tiuje hollowing, screami)ig and yelling, 
and making every noise that their ingenuity or malice 
could devise. Sometimes they drove these oaken benches 
full l)ut against the aft bulk head, so as to make the ship 
tremble again with the noise, like cannon. They jammed 
down the crockery belonging to the marines, which was 
set up on tlie opposite side of the cock-pit, and frightened 
their wives out of their beds. The noise and jarring were 
so great, that it seemed as if tliey were breaking up the 
ship, for the sake of her iron work. Lieut. Osmore sent 
a marine down, to order them to be still and go to sleep. 
They replied, that they had no conveniences for sleepin?*, 
and thai Osmore had acted like a villain, in deprivinr»» 
tiiefu unnecessarily of their hammocks, for which brutal- 
ity, tliey were determined that he should not sleep any 
more than tliey. After which they recommenced tlieir 
riot and thundering noise, wliich brought Osmore out of 
his ciibin, and called one of tlie committee to him, and 
toid him to tell the men, that if they did not directly cease 
their noise, he would confine every man of them below, for 
three days. 'I'lie committee man replied, that nothing 
coiild then be done, for that the mob had fairly capsized 
llie government of tliC ship, and all that he could say, 
would only add to the riot and confusion. " Then,.'* said 



438 JOURNAL. 

ho. " I'll 1)0 (1— «1 if I do not fire upon them/' Some of 
tlie intil) answered, " fire, and be d— d." And the com- 
njaiulMr hesitated a moment, and returned to his cabin ; 
iur he saw the men were wrought up to the battle pitch, 
and rather wished liim to fire, by way of excuse for their 
attack upon him whom they most cordially despised. 

Directly upon this, they collected all the tin and cop- 
per pans, pots and kettles,* and every sonorous metallic 
siilistauce they could lay their hands on. These they tied 
to'-ciher, andhilched bunches of them here and there, up- 
on"* the oaken planks; and then, what with screaming, 
Aelliu"-. like the Indian war-whoop, eheering. and the thun- 
ileriug noise of the planks, grating along the deck, to- 
<»«etlier with the ringing and clattering of their metallic 
vessels, they made altogether such a hideous " rattle- 
conip-twang," that it was enough to raise all Chatham. 
All this was transacted in utter darkness. The officers 
d(MjbtU'SS saw that bloodshed and promiscuous death would 
he the conse(iuence of firing among the rioters, and pru- 
dently left it to subside with the darkness of the night. 
These disorderly fellows would go round the decks twice, 
Avith all this thundering noise and clatter, and then he si- 
lent for about half an hour, or until they thought Mr. 
Osmore had got into a doze ; and then they would reeora- 
monce their horrible serenade. At length Osmore became 
so enraged, that he swore by his Maker, that he would 
order every marine in the ship to fire in among them ; 
but on some of the committee observing to him that he 
would be as likely to kill the innocent as the guilty, and 
as they were then silent, he went off again to his cabin ; 
hut within a quarter of an hour they began again their 
fthocklu'i; serenade, and continued it, at provoking inter- 
\als. all the night, so that none could sleep in the ship. 

In t!ie mornins: the tender came along; side, and thev 
all went on l)oard of her. When they had all got in, and 
pushed olVfrom the shi|)'s side, and while Osmore was su- 
perintending their departure, they all cried out, baa! 
biia ! hna ! until they got out of hearing. The next day 
l»e lietrayed a disposition to punish, in some way, those 
jirlsoners that remained ; but it Mas remarked to him, 
that it was utterly impossible for any of them to stop 
the ridt. or to keep their disturbers quiet, and that 
Ihey, themselves, were equally incommoded with hioi and 



JOUUNAL. 1^9 

his fiimily, he prudently dropped llie desip;'n. AU]ion2,h 
mail} of us disapproved of this behaviour of llie men, none 
of us coiiid lielp laugliing at the noise, and its ludicrous 
effects. It is a fact, that the ollicers and marines of tlie 
Crouii Prince prison siiip, were more afraid of tlie Amer- 
ican prisoners, than they were of them. Tliis last frolie 
absolutel} cowed them. One of the officers said to me, 
next day, " Your countrymen do not seem to he a bloody 
minded set of men, like' the Portuajuese and Spaniards, 
hut ihey have the most d — d provoking impudence I ever 
saw, in* any men : if they did not accompany it all witli 
peals of laughter, and 'in the spirit of fun, I should put 
them down as a set of hell-hounds." I told him that I 
considered the last night's riot, not in the light of a muti- 
ny, or a serious attempt to wound or scratch any man, but 
as a high frolic, without any real malice, and was an evi- 
dence of that boisterous liberty in which they had been 
bred up, and arising also from their high notions of riglit 
and wrong. To which the worthy Scotchman replied, '' I 
hate a Frenchman, a Spaniard and a Portuguese; but I 
never can liate an American; and yet the three former 
hehave infinitely better, and give 'us far less trouble than 
your saucy fellows '* Had British prisoners beliaved in 
this manner, in the prison ships in the harbor of Boston, 
or Salem, would our officers liave borne it with more pa- 
tience ? 

As there were hut few prisoners now remaining, und 
ample room to run and jump about for exercise, our men 
evidently recruited ; and being in good spirits, the rose of 
health soon bloomed again on their manly cheeks. i he 
soldiers, made prisoners in Canada, evidently gained 
strength, and acquired activity. If we compare their 
miserable, emaciated looks, on their arrival at Melville 
Prison, from their wretched voyage down the St. Law- 
rence, with their present appearance, the difference is 
striking. The wretched appearance of these new made 
soldiers, reflects no credit on tlie British. The savages 
of the forest never starve their prisoners. The war de- 
part ment of the United States having ordered these men 
a portion of their pay, they appropriated it chiefly to pur- 
chase comfortable clothing, which has been ])roductive of 

reat good, and has probably saved the lives of some of 



11* 



i^O JOURNAL. 

ihem: ollicrs sqiiaiulered away their money in dissipation 

aiid u;nml)IiiiJ5 

A lieeotDliiu; tlesiree of tranquility prevailed on board 
ihis prison ship, during my residence in it. On the 15th 
ui' ScpiLMnl)er. we were all isent on board the Bahama pris- 
».n -^liij). which lay farther up the reach. Here we found 
uKiitit ilirce hundred of our countrymen, who received us 
Midi kiudiicss, and many marks of satisfaction. 1 could, 
ul once, perceive that their situation had been less pleas- 
ant lliaii ours in the Crown Prince. Little attention had 
Ircu paid lo cleanliness, and gambling had been carried to 
as great excess as their means would admit of. They 
bccmcd lo lack either the power, or the resolution of ad- 
hering to, and carrying into effect, good and wholesome 
icgiilatioiis. I never saw a set of more ragged, dirty men 
iit njy life: and yet they were disposed to sell their last 
rag to get money to game with. Their misfortune was, 
liiey had too few men of sense and respectability among 
ilicm. Tlic'v liad no sood committee men ; not enoua-h to 
bear down the current of vice and folly. We dread the 
c«»nlagion ol' bad example. Some of our men soon resort- 
ed to their detestible gambling tables, and pursued their 
old \iccs with astonishing avidity. V\'e seriously expos- 
lulatcd witii our companions, on their returning to the per- 
nicious practice of gaml)ling, after they had had the vir- 
tue of refraining on board the Crown Prince ; and our ad- 
\ ice imluccfl nearly all of them to reiiounce the destructive 
practice. 1 had read, but never saw convincing evidence 
hclore, of gaming being a passion, that rages in projior- 
lion to the degrees of misery, until it becomes a species of 
iiisauitv. 

Wc, "newcomers," introduced certain measures that 
V.:u\ a tendency to harmonise our sailors and soldiers. The 
••isordiMs on lurnnl the Bahama arise, principally, from 
ha\ing on board a number of these two classes of men. 
Our hailors view a soldier as belonging to an order of men 
Im'Iow llu'ui ; and it must be confessed that our first crop 
«if ri'cruils, that were huddled together soon after the dec- 
laration of war, in some measure justified this notion. 
'11. ev were, many of them, idle, intemperate men, void of 
cliuruclcr and good constitutions. The high flying federal 
«h'ri:y. among other nonsense, told their floeks^hat the 
wur would demoralize the people: whereas it had the con- 



JOURNAL. 131 

trary eftect, as it regarded the towns an hundred miles 
IVorii the sea coast. It absolutely picked out ail the rags, 
dirt, and vice, from our towns and villages, and transport- 
ed them into Canada, where tliey were either captured, 
killed, or died with sickness, so that our towns and villa- 
ges on the atlantic were cleared of idlers and drunkards, 
and experienced the benefit of their removal. The second 
crop of recruits, in 1814, were of a ditferent cast. The 
high bounty, and the love of country, induced the embar- 
goed sailor to turn soldier ; to these were added young me- 
chanics, and the sons of farmers. These were men of 
good habits, and of calculation. They looked forward to 
their bounty of land, with a determination of settling on 
their farms* at the close of the war. These were moral^ 
men, and they raised the character of the soldier, and of 
their country. These were the men who conquered at Chip- 
pewa, Bridgewater, Erie, and Plattsburg. Of such men 
was composed that potent army of well disciplined mili- 
tia, who reposed within twenty miles of the sea shores of 
New England — especially of Massachusetts and Connecti- 
cut; and who, had the British attempted a landing, would 
have met them, w ith the bayonet, at the water's edge, and 
crimsoned its tide. 

Our captivated sailors knew nothing of this fine army; 
they only knew the first recruits, and it is no wonder they 
viewed them as their inferiors, as they really were. Eveu 
the officers were, generally speaking, much inferior to 
those who closed the war. * The American sailor appears 
to be a careless, unthinking, swearing fellow ; but he is 
generally much better than he appears. He is generally 
marked with honor, generosity, and honesty. A ship's 
crew soon assimilates, and they are all brother tars, em- 
barked together in the same bottom, and in the same pur- 
suit of interest, curiosity or fame ; while the rigid disci- 
pline of an army does not admit of this association and as- 
similation. A sailor, therefore, greets a sailor, as his 
brother ; but has not yet learned to greet a soldier as his 
brother ; nor has the American soldier ever felt the fra- 
ternal attachment to the sailor. It should be tiie policy 
of our rulers, and military commanders, to assimilate the 
American soldier and sailor; and tliere is little doubt but 
that they will amalgamate in time. In France, the sol- 
dier looks down upon the sailor ; in England, aud in Amer- 



Id2 



JOURNAL. 



ica, t!ie sailor looks down on the soldier. We must leara 
ihcm to march arm in arm, 

Conliucinent, dirliiicss, and deprivations, have an evil 
operation on tlie mind. 1 have observed some svlio had a 
litlle rernieinent ol* manners, at the commeneement of their 
captivitN, ajid resjarded the situation and leelino's oi* oth- 
ers near tliem, nitli comjilaceney, have lost it all, and 
sunk into a state of misantliropy. We, Americans, exer- 
eise too little ceremony at best, but some of our prisoners 
lost all deference and respect for their countrymen, and 
became mere lio;^s. the stronger pushing the weaker aside, 
to iret the most swill. 

♦' Jove fix'd it certain that the very day 

«' Made man a slave, took half his vv^orth av\'ay." Homer, 

All our industrious men, were well behaved, and 
all our idle men were hoggisii. Some of our counlrymcti 
worked very neatly in bone, out of wliich material they 
built ships, and carved images, and snulT boxes, and tobac- 
co boxes, and watch cases. Some covered boxes, in a very 
neat manner, with straw. The men thus employed, formed 
a >lrou;:; contrast to those wlio did nothing, or who followed 
up 'j^MUibling Our ship attorded striking instances of tiie 
jJLTuiuious etfccts of idleness, and of the beneficial efiecls 
ol" industry. We. on board the Crown Pi ince, instructed 
tl'.e boys : but in Ibis ship, tiiere has been no atleuliou 
j)aid to them, and they are, upon the whole, as vicious in 
till ir conduct, and as j)rofane in their language, as any 
hoys 1 ever saw. Frenchmen are bad companions for 
American boys. They can teach them more than they 
L'\cr lliought of in their own country. 

In January last, three hundred and sixty American 
prisoners were sent on board this shij). Great mortality 
prcvailrd amojig the Danish prisoners, prior to the arri- 
val of our countrymen, on board the Bahama. The Danes 
occupied her main deck, while we occupied llie lower one. 
A\ In-ii our jjoor fellows were tumbled from out of one ship 
into this, they had not sufficient clothes to cover their 
shiverin- litnhs in this coldest month of tho year. Thev 
were, indeed, objects of cotnj)assion, emaciated, pale, shud- 
dering, low spirited, and their constitutions sadly broken 
down. Their system was not stronc; enough to resist any 
»mpri.*Hi„i,. espreiiilly llje contagion of the jail fever, un- 
acr which the Danes were dyin^; by dozens. Out of three 



JOURNAL. 133 

huiulreil aiul sixty-one Americans, who came last on V.oard, 
ei2;J»ty-foiir uere, in tlie course of tliree months, buried in 
the surrounding marshes, the buryin<i; place of the prison 
ships. 1 may possibly forgive, but 1 never can forget the 
unfeeling conduct of the British, on this occasion. Why 
send men on board a crowded prison ship, that tiiey knew 
was infected with a mortal contagion } Their govern- 
ment must have known the inevitable consequences of put- 
ting three hundred debilitated men on board an infected 
ship, where there were not enough well, to attend on the 
sick. If we, Americans, ever treated British prisoners in 
our hands, in this cruel manner, t!«e facts have never 
reached mv ears. Here was an opportunity for redeem- 
ing their blasted reputation, for tlie horrors of their old 
Jersey prison ship, in the revolutionary war. But they 
supposed that our aftairs were so low, and their own so 
glorious, that there was no room for retaliation. The 
surrounding marshes were already unhealthy, without 
adding the poison of human bodies, which were every honr 
put into them. Several persons, now prisoners here, and 
I rank myself among that number, had a high idea of 
British humanity, prior to our captivity : but we have 
been compelled to change our opinions of the character 
of the people from whom we descended. The command- 
er of the Bahama, Mr. W. is a passionate and very hot 
tempered man, but is, upon the whole, an humane one. 
We have more to praise than to blame, in his conduct to- 
wanls us. He is not ill disposed to the Americans, gen- 
erally, and wishes for a lasting peace between the two 
contending nations. His mate is the reverse of all this, 
especially when he is overcharged with liquor. 

As characteristic of some of our imprudent country- 
men, I insert the following anecdote. The Belleeean, 
(or Bellanxcean) prison ship, lay next to us. She was 
tilled with Norwegians, and were detained in England, 
while Norwav adhered to a kina: of their own choice. 
Tije commander of her was a nettlesome, fractious, fool- 
ish old fellow, who was continaally overlooking us, and 
hailing our commander, to inform him if any one smug- 
gled a bottle of rum from the market boats. His Norwe- 
giat.'S gave him no troiiblr*, they were a peaceable, siibser- 
vient people, with no i'nn in their constitution.-:, ?!or any 
jovial east in their composition. They were very diftVr- 



13* JOURNAL. 

eiit from the Rrili^li or Anieriean sailor, wlio ^\ IH iiover 
be haulkid of liis fun, if llie Devil stands ai tlie door. This 
imprudent, mcdillino- old coninuuider. of tlie B'.'llauxeean, 
Mas forever iiiforniine; tlie officer of llie deck of even lit- 
tle piekudillo of the Amerieaii prisoners : and he, of 
coiiise, jrot llse hearty ill will of all the Americans in the 

• • • 1 

ship Bahama. He once saw a marine connive at tiie pass-, 
ih'j; a couj)le of hotlles of liquor lliroii2,'h the lower ports, 
and he hailed the commander, and informed him of it ; 
and the marine was immediately pnnished for it. This 
roused the Americans to revenj^e ; for the British soldier, 
or marine, is so much of a slave, that reveni;'e never dare 
enter his head. Retaliation belongs alone to the free and 
darincj American. He alone enjoys the lejc talionisy and 
"•lories in carrvins; it into execution. 

Fish null p (A at oes constituted the diet of the followina; 
day. What does our " dare-devils" do but reserve all 
their potatoes to serve as cold shot to fire at the fractions 
commander oftlieir next neiijjhbor. the Bellanxcean. Ac- 
cordinpily m hen they observed the old man stubbing back- 
wards and forwards his quarter deck, and stopping now 
and then to peak over to our ship to see if we smupjcidcd a 
bottle oi' liquor, they j^ave him a volley of potatoes, which 
was kept up until the veteran commander liailed our cap- 
tain and told him that if the Asnericans did not cease 
their insult he uould order his marines ^o fire upon them ; 
but his threatenin^js produced no other eifect than that of 
increasing the shower of potatoes : so that this brave 
British tar was compelled to seek shelter in his cabin ; 
and then the potatoe battery ceased its fire. When all 
was quiet, the old sjentleman seized the opjiortunity of 
puslilnt:; on board of us. When he came on our quarter 
deck, rage stopped all jiovver of utterance, he foamed aiul 
slamj)ed like a mad man. At length, he asked Mr. Wilson 
how he could permit a liody of prisoners under Ills com- 
mand and control, to Insult one (tf his majesty's officers 
in his own ship ? To which Mr. Wihon replied, that he 
•ihould use his influenee to prevent a repetition of tlie In- 
sult, and restore harmony, and that he was sorry that his 
men should get into any difiiciilty \\ith tliose of another 
ship: and he recommended moderation; but the old 
commander swore and raved terribly, when our worthy 
jirotectur reminded him that he was not on his own quarter 



JOURNAL. 



13i? 



deck. The Ci.olness of Mr Wilson stiil fiirflier eiirao^ed 
our exiispeiated nciglibor, and he left tlse siiip execrat- 
ino- every one on board, and swearlns: that he would 
make comj)hiint to tlie connnodore. 

When the prisioiiers saw how tiseir own commander 
viewed tlie interrerence of another, they collected all the 
potatoes tliey could firul, and I am sorry to add, pieces of 
con I, and as soon as he le't the side of the Bahama, they 
pelted him till he fairly skulked under cover in his own 
prison ship. He directly drew his marines up in battle 
array, on his quarter deck, when the captain of the Baha- 
ma seeing his folly, and knowini^ his disposition, exerted 
liimself to make every American ^o below, and enjoined 
U])on them a cessation of potatoes. We j^ained, however, 
more by this slsort war, than most of tlie nations of the 
world, for it entirely removed the cause for which we took 
np potatoes apjainst one of his Britanick majesty's officers, 
Avithin ten lesipjues of the capital of his empire. I over- 
jieard ca])t. Wilson say to the second in command. ** these 
Americans are tlie sauciest dogs 1 ever saw ; l)ut damn 
me if 1 can help liking them, nor can I ever hate men who 
are so much like ourselve*^ — Miey are John Bull all over." 

lu a cour'*e of kind and flattering treatment, our eoun- 
tiTmen were orderly and easily governed ; but when they 
conceived themselves ill treated yon might as well attemj)t 
to 2:overn so inanv East India tigers. The British offi- 
cers in this river disco\ered this, and dreaded their com- 
bined anger ; and yet the Americans are seldom or ever 
known to carry their vengeance to blood and murder, like 
the Spainard. Italian and Portuguese. 

A Swedish fiigate is just arrived in the roach, to take 
awav those good bovs, the Norwegians. Kin<^ Tiernarlottp. 
sent them two and six pence a piece, to secure their afifee- 
tions, and provide them with some needed articles for 
tlieir passage to Norway. A cartel is hourly expected 
from London, to take home some of their soldiers The 
Leyden. an old DtJtch bl, is preparing, at the Nore, to 
take us away. 

We are induced to believe that our emancipation is 
nigh. We are every day expecting, that we, too, shall be 
sent ho!ne : but this hope, instead of inspiring us with joy 
and glrulness. h is generated sourness and discontent. It 
seems that the government of the United Stales give a 



13G 



JOUllN'AI-. 



prelVrciioe lo tlio-sc who had enlisted in the public service 
!,ver siK h a* were in privateers. We have felt this dif- 
iVience all alons;. Aiiain, the government are disposed to 
liherate the sohlicrs hefore tlie sailors, because their suf- 
iVrin"-s are i::;reater than those of sailors, from their former 
mode'of life^nd occupations. They were farmers or me- 
chanics, or any (hino; but seamen; and this makes their 
residence on ship-board very irksome ; whereas, the sailor 
is at home on the deck or hold of the ship. Most of these 
soldiers were from the state of Pennsylvania and New 
York, and many from the western parts of the union. 
These men could not bear confinement like sailors, neither 
could they bear a short allowance of food, nor could they 
shirk for themselves like a Jack tar. A sailor could en- 
dure, with a decree of patience, restraints and depriva- 
tions that were death to landsmen. Many of these youth- 
ful soldiers had not lono; left their native habitations, and 
parental care, when they were captured ; their morals and 
manners v,ere purer than those of sailors. Such young 
men suifered not only in their health, but in their feelings, 
and many sunk under their accumulated miseries; for, 
nourished by indulj^ence, in the midst of abundance, many 
of them died for want of sudieient food. These miserable 
hein2;s were, as they ou2;ht to be, the first objects of the 
solicitude (»f e;overnment. 

'i'he prisoners were seen here and there, collected in 
s(|uads, chewinj^ toa;etherthe cud of discontent, and ajrumb- 
liui^ at the imasjined partiality and injustice of their rul- 
ers. These discontents and bickerino;s too often damped 
the joy of their prospect of liberation from captivity. The 
j)oor privateers' men had most reason for complainiua;, as 
they found themselves neglected by one side, and despised 
by the other. 

The sun'erin2;s of soldiers, many of whom were militia, 
"who were taken on the frontiers of Canada, are not to be 
withheld from the public. They were first stripped by 
the savaujes in the British service, and then driven befjre 
them, hair naked, to the city of Quebec; from thence they 
were sent, in ill provided transports, to Halifax, suffering 
all the way. the torments of hunger and thirst. When they 
arrived at Melville prison, they were shocking objects to 
the prisoners tie y found there ; emaciated, weak, dirty, 
sickly, and but half clothed, they excited, in us all, com- 



JeURSAL. 137 

lUiseration for their great misery ; and indignation, con- 
tempt and revenge, towards the nation who could allow 
such barbarity. The cruel deception practised on their 
embarkation for England, instead of going home; their 
various miseries on ship-board, where as landsmen, they 
nnderwent infinitely more than the sailors ; for many of them 
never had seen the salt ocean ; and their close confinement 
in the hold of a ship, gave them the idea of a floating hell. 
The captivity of the sailors was sufliciently distressing ; 
hut it was nothing to that of the wretched landsmen, who 
considered a ship, at all times, a kind of dungeon. The 
transporting our soldiers to England, and their sufferings 
during their passage, and while confined in that country, 
has engendered a hatred against the British nation, that 
ages will not obliterate, and time scarcely diminish. We, 
Americans, can never be justly accusedof want of human- 
ity to the English prisoner. 

I have frequently thought that the over-rated and high- 
ly boasted British bravery and humanity, would find their 
graves in America. The treatment these soldiers expe- 
rienced has stigmatised the English character, and de- 
servedly so. It is not in the power of words, and scarcely 
in the power of the painter's pencil, to convey an idea of 
their wretchedness. They were covered with rags, dirt, 
and vermin. They were, to us, objects of pity, but to all 
others, objects of disgust ; even we, their brothers, recoil- 
ed, at times, on approaching them. Was there any design 
in this ? Did oiir enemies wish to impress their country- 
men with an abhorrence of a yankee ? How else can we 
account for a treatment which our people never experienc- 
ed when prisoners of the Indians ? No — the savages never 
starve their prisoners, nor deprive them the use of water. 
Dispirited, and every way disheartened, our poor fellows 
had, generally speaking, the aspect of a cowardly, low 
spirited race of men, and much inferior to the British. We 
here saw how wretched circumstances, in a short time, de- 
bases a brave and high spirited man. When people from 
the shore visited our ship, and saw our miserable soldiers^ 
we do not wonder that they despised them. We some- 
times had the mortification of hearing remarks in the 
Scotch accent, to this effect : " So, these are samples of the 
hrave yankees that took the Giierriere smii Java s it proves 
12 



J3S JOURNAL. 

(() a (Ipmoiisfration, that the American frigates were man- 
ijt'd ^^'\ih British deserters." 

The sailors often tried to spirit up the soldiers, and to 
cnc()ura2;e them to cleanliness ; but it was in vain, as 
most of them were depressed below the elasticity of their 
brave souls : yet amidst their distress, not a man of them 
would listen to proposals to enter the British service. Ev- 
ery one preferred death, and even wished for it. The 
Americans are a clean people in their persons as well as 
in tlicir houses. None of them are so poor as to live in 
cabins, like the Irish, or in cottages, like the Scotch ; but 
they aie brought up in houses having chimnies, glass 
windows, separate and convenient rooms, and good bed- 
ding; and to all these comfortable things we must add 
that the poorest of our countrymen eat meat once ev- 
ery day, and most of them twice. To young men so 
fcrought up and nourished, a British captivity on board 
their horrid transports, and even on board their prison- 
ships, is worse than death. If we, Americans, treat Brit- 
ish prisoners as they treat ours, let it be published to the 
world to our disgrace. Should the war continue many 
years, I predict that few Americans will be taken alive by 
the English. 

After these poor fellows had received money and cloth- 
ing from our government, they became cheerful, clean, 
and many of them neat, and were no bad specimens of 
American soldiery. We are sorry to remark, that there 
was ol)5erved something repulsive between the soldier and 
the sailor. The soldier thought himself better than the 
.Tack tar, while the sailor felt himself, en board ship, a 
better fellow than the soldier; one was a fish in the water, 
the other a lobster out of the water. The sailors always 
took the lead, because they were at home ; while the dis- 
pirited landsman felt himself a stranger in an enemy's 
laud, even among his countrymen. It would be well if all 
our sea and land commanders would exert themselves to 
break down the partition wall that is growing up between 
our sailors and soliliers; they should be constantly re- 
minded that they are all children of one and the same 
great family, whereof tlie President of the United States 
is fttther ; that they have all been taught to read the same 
bil'le, and to obey the same great moral law of loving one 
•nother. I observed, with pain, that nothing vexed a 



JOURNAL. 139 

sailor more, tlian to be called by a brother tar, a soldier- 

lookiua; sou ot* a . This term of contempt commonly 

led to blows. This mutual dislike bred didicalties in the 
o^overnment of ourselves, and sometimes defeated our best 
regulations ; for it split us into parties, and then we be- 
haved as bad as our superiors and richer brethren do on 
shore, neglecting the general interest to indulge our own 
private views, and spirit of revenge. I thought our ship 
often resembled our republic in miniature, for human na- 
ture is the same always, and only varies its aspect from 
situation and circumstances. 

It is now'Hhe latter end of September; the weather 
pretty pleasant, but not equal to our fine Septembers and 
Octobers in New PJngland. We are, every hour, expect- 
ing orders to quit this river, and return to oar own dear 
country. 



CHAPTER III. 



October 2d, 1814.— -We were now ordered to pick up 
our duds and get all ready to embark in certain gun-brigs 
that had anchored along side of us; and an hundred of us 
were soon put on board, and the tide favoring, we gently 
drifted down the river Medway. It rained, and not being 
permitted to go below, and being thinly clad, we were w et 
to the skin. When the rain ceased, our commander went 
below, and returned, in a short time, gaily equipped in his 
full uniform, cockade and dirk. He mounted the poop, 
%vhere he strutted about, sometimes viewing himself, and 
now and then eyeing us, as if to see if we, too, admired 
him. He was about five feet high, with thick broad 
shoulders, and portly belly. We concluded that he would 
atFord us some fun ; but we were mistaken; for, with the 
body of Dr. Slop, he bore a round, ruddy, open and smil- 
ing countenance, expressive of good nature and urbanity.* 
The crew said, that although he was no seaman, he was a 
man, and that abetter fellow never eat the king's bread; 

"^ He was no bad resemblance of our Captain C, 



j40 JOURNAL 

iliat (Ir'V were happy iiuJer his command ; and the odU 
ilread th'ey had was, that he, or they shouhl be transferred 
to another ship. Does not tliis prove that seamen can be 
better f^overned by kindness and good humor than by the 
boatswain's eat? We would ask two of our own navai 
foinmanders, ii. and C. whether they had not better try 
the experiment ? We should be very sorry if the infant, 
navy of our young cotintry, should have the character of 
loo much severity of discipline. To say that it is requi- 
site is a libel on our national character. Slavish minds 
alnne require the lash. 

On board this brig were two London mechanics, recent- 
h pressed in the streets of the capital of the English na- 
tion — a nation that has long boasted of its liberty and hu- 
manity. These coeknies Vkore long coats, drab-coloured 
Aclvet breeches, and grey stockings. They were con- 
stantly followed by tlve boatswain's mate, who often im- 
jircssed his lessons, and excited their activity with a rope's 
Olid which he carried in Jiis hat. The poor fellows were 
extremely anxious to avoid such repeated hard arguments, 
and they kept at as great a distance from their tyrant as 
j)ossible, who seemed to delight in beating them. It ap- 
jieared to me to be far out doing, in cruelty, the Algerines. 
They look melancholy, and, at times, very sad. May 
America never become the greatest of naval powers, if to 
attain it, she must allow a brutal sailor to treat a citizen, 
kidnaj)ped from his family in the streets of our cities, 
Ahorse than we use a dog. I again repeat it, for the thou- 
bandth time, the English are a hard hearted, cruel and 
barbarous race ; and, on thi^ account alone, I have often 
liecu ashamed, that we, Americans, descended mostly 
from them. When a man is ill used, it invites others to 
insult him. One of our prisoners, who had been treated 
Milli a drink of grog, took out his knife, and, as the cock- 
ney's face was the other way, cut oft' one skirt of his long 
coat. This joke excited peals of laughter. When the 
poor Eundoncr saw that this w as done by a roguish Amer- 
ican, at the in.sliii'ation of his own countrvmen, the tear 
stood in his vyt. Even our jolly, big bellied captain, en- 
joyed the joke, and ordered the boatswain's mate to cut olT 
the other skirt, \^ ho, after viewing him amidst shouts of 
langhtcr, damned him for a land lubber, and said, now he 
IihH lost his ring-tuil. he looked like a gentleman sailor. 



JOURNAL, 14j1 

Aitiiough our good natured captain laughed at this joke. 
I confess i could not ; ail the horrors of impressment rush- 
ed on my mind. This mechanic may have left a wife and 
children, suifering and starving, from having her husband 
and their father kidnapped, like a negro on the coast of 
Guinea, and held in worse than negro slavery. But this 
is Old England, the residence of liberty iind equal laws ; 
and the bulwark of our holy religion ! The crimes of na- 
tions are punished in this world ; and we may venture to 
predict, tliat the impressment of seamen, and cruel military 
punishments, will operate the downfa! of this splendid im- 
postor, whose proper emblem is a bloated Hgure, seated on 
a throne, made of dead mens' bones, with a crown on its 
head, a sword in one hand, and a cup filled with the tears 
of widows aini orphans in the other. 

We passed by Sheernessi, and, in our passage to the 
Nore, came near several hulks fiiled witli convicts. We 
soon came alons: side the Leyden, an old Dutch 61, fitted 
up with births, eight feet by six, so as to contain six per- 
sons ; but they were nearly all filled by prisoners who 
came before us, so that we were obliged to shirk wherever 
we could. 

W^e found the captain of the Leyden very much such a 
man as the commander of the Malabar. Our allowance 
of food was as short as he could make it, and our liquor 
ungenerous. He said we were a damn set of rebel yankees 
that lived too well, which made us saucy. The first lieu- 
tenant was a kind and humane gentleman, hut his captain 
was the reverse. He would hear no complaints and threat- 
ened to put the bearer of them in irons. 

The countenance, and whole form of this man was indi- 
cative of malice; his very step was that of an abrupt and 
angry tyrant. His gloomy visage was that of an harden- 
ed jailor ; and he bore towards us the same sort of affec- 
tion which we experienced from the refugees in N^ova 
Scotia. He caused a marine to be most severely flo2:2:ed 
lor selling one of the prisoners a little tobacco, which he 
saved out of his own allowance. The crew were forbidden 
to speak with any of us ; but, when they could with safe- 
ty, they described him to be the most odious of tyrants, 
and the most malicious of men. They said he never ap- 
peared pleased only when his men were suffering the ago- 
12* 



tl2 JOURNAL, 

iiiesofilic Ijoalsnalii's lashes. In this he resemhied tlic 
tJcmons among the damned. 

Upon eullinij over our names, and parading ourselve? 
hcfore eapt. liavie, we could discover, in a second, the 
haihh it'inpcr of the man. We, at length, neighed anchor, 
pulsed a fleet oi* men of war, and in a few days arrived in 
I'lymoiilh harbor. The captain went immediately on 
sliure and left the command to his \forthy and humane 
lieutenant. 'I'he next day a great many boats carae oif to 
ris filled with Cyprian dames. They were, generally, 
healthy, rosy looking lasses. Their number increased 
every i»our, until there were as many on board of us as 
there were men. In short, every man who paid the wa- 
terman half a crown had a wife, so that the ship, belong- 
ing to llie bulwark of our religion, exhibited such a scene 
as is described by the navigators, who have visited the 
Jaunth-Sca Islands. We read, with surprise and pity, the 
conduct of the female sex, when European ships visit the 
islands in the Pacific ocean ; and we are unwilling to give 
i'redit to all we read, because we, Americans, never fail to 
annex the idea of modesty to that of a woman; for female 
licentiousnes is very rarely witnessed in the new world. 
This has rendered the accounts of navigators, in a degree, 
incredible ; but we see the same thing in the ports of Eng- 
land — a land of christians — renowned for its bishops and 
their church, and for moral writings and sermons, and for 
their bible societies, and religious institutions, and for 
fheir numerons moral essays, and chaste poetical writ- 
ings. Ves, christian reader! in this religious island, 
thereof George the 3d is king, and Charlotte the queen, 
iho youug females crowd the prison ships and take for hus- 
bands the ragged American prisoners, provided they can 
(;ct a few shillings by it. What are we to think of the 
htate of society in England, when two or three sisters 
leave the house of their parents, and pass a week on board 
of a newly arrived ship .'^ What can be the sentiments of 
the daughters : What the feelings of their mothers, their 
iathers, and their brothers ? In the South Sea Islands, 
young females know not what modesty means ; neither that 
nor chastitv is a virtue in those recrions. But it is not 
<juite so ill England ; there this lewd conduct is a mark of- 
<lcbaseinent, depravity and vice. The sea-ports of Eng- 
land, and the streets of her capital, and, indeed, of all hJr 



JOURNAL.' 1-13 

lari^e cities, are filled with handsome women, who oflcr 
themselves as wives to men they never saw before, for a 
few sliillini^s ; and yet tins is the country of which our 
reTerend doctors, from the pulpit, assure us, contains more 
religion and morality than any other of the same numbei' 
of inhabitants ; nay, more, our governor has proeiaimed 
it to the world over, as being the very bsilwark of th«3 re- 
ligion v.'e profess. If cruelty to prisoners, cruelty to their 
own soldiers, of kidnapping their mechanics, by press 
gangs, if shocking barbarity be exercised towards prison- 
ers, and if open, shameless lewdness, mark and disgrace 
their sea-ports, their capital, and all their large cities, are 
the modest and correct people, inhabiting the towns and 
villages of the United States, to be affronted by being toid 
publicly, that they have less religion, less morality than 
the people of England. How long shall we continue to 
be abused by folly and presumption ? We, Americans, are 
yet a modest, clean, and moral people, as much so as tiie 
iSwips in Europe, and we feel ourselves offended and dis- 
gusted when our blind guides tell us to follow the exam- 
ple of the English in their manners and sexual conduct. 
Could I allow myself to particularise the conduct of 
the fair sex, who crowd on board every recently ar- 
rived ship, and who swarm on the shores, my readers 
would eoni'ess that few scenes of the kind could exceed it. 
The freedom of the American press will give to posterity 
a just picture of British morals, ia the reigns of George 
the 3d and -ith. 

While laying in Plymouth harbor, we received the news 
of the capture of the City of Washington, and the burning 
of its public buildings. Every body around us believed 
that America was conquered, and the war over. After 
we had read the account rn the newspaper, the Lieuten- 
ant came down among us, and talked with us on the event, 
and asked us if we did not think that America would now 
submit and make peace on such terms as Great Britain 
should propose. We all told him with once voice, no ! 
no ! and that the possession of the whole sea-eoast could 
not produce that effect. We explained to him the situa- 
tion of Washington, and described the half built city, and 
soon convinced him that the capture of Washington, was 
by no means an event of half the importance of the cap- 
tnre of Albany, or New York, or Baltimore. We all 



l]4) JOURNAL. 

agreed timf it woiiM make a threat sound in Eng^laiid, and 
tirrou'-liout Eiiroj)^, Iju( llial it was, iu faet, of iitije con- 
stMHieiice to the Uinted Slates. 

Ai'oiit i neek after we entered Plymouth harbor, two 
lumdred oT hs were drafted to be sent to Dartmoor Prison, 
iiialeiid of l)eii)2j sent, as we expected, to America. 

We were conveyed in boats, and saw, as we passed, a 
iHimiJiT of men of war on the stocks ; and, among others, 
the Lord Vim-ent, pierced for 120 l»;ii4is. One of our pris- 
oners tuhl the lieutenant that he was in that battle with 
Lord 8t. Vincent, and of course helped him gain the vic- 
tory, and liere he was now sailino- by a most noble sliip, 
})uilt in honor of tiiat famous admiral, on his way to a 
doloful prison. This man had been pressed on board a 
British man of war, and was given up as sucii ; but in- 
stead of being sent home as he ought, lie was detained a 
pi isouer of war ; and yet this unfortunate man exposed 
his life in fighting for the British off Cape St. Yineents, 
as much as the noble Lord liimself. Such is the differ- 
ence of rewards in this chequered world ! 

My mind was too much oppressed with the melancholy 
prospect of Dartmoor prison, to notice particularly the 
g;illant show of ships, and the beautiful scenery which the 
dock and bay of Plymouth afforded. When we landed a 
short distance from the dock, we were received by a tile of 
soldiers, or rather two files, between which we marched 
on. This was the first time we touched the soil of Eng- 
land with our feet, after laying under its shores nearly a 
year. It excited singular and plaesant sensations to be 
once more permitted to walk on the earth, although sur- 
rounded by soldiers, and going to prison. The old women 
collected about us with* their cakes and ale, and as we all 
Iiad a little money we soon emptied their jugs and baskets ; 
and their cheering beveridge soon changed our sad coun- 
tenances, and as we marched on we cheered each other. 
Onr march drew to the doors and windows the enchanting 
sight of fair ladies ; compared with our dirty selves, thej 
looked like angels peeping out of Heaven ; and yet they 
were neither handsomer or neater than onr sweetheart^ 
and sisters in our own dear coinitry. 

After wo left the street, we found the road extremely 
dnsty, which rendered it very unpleasant in walking close 
to each other. Before we *got half way to the prison^ 



JOURNAL. 143 

tliere was a very iieavy shower of rain, so that by the lime 
we arrived there we looked as if we liad been wallowino; 
ill tlie mud. Our unfeeling conductors mare!»ed us nine 
miles before they allowed us to rest, never once consider- 
ini:^ how unfit we were, from our long confinement, for tra- 
velling. Wiiere we were allowed to stop, a butt of beer 
was placed in a cart for sale. Had British prisoners been 
marching through New-England, a butt of beer, or good 
eider w ould have been placed for them free of all expense ; 
))ut old Euijland is not New-Enndand bv a 2:reat deal, 
whatever Governor Strong mav tliink of his adorable 
country of kings, bishops and missionary societies. Hero 
a fresh escort of soldiers relieved those who brought us 
from IMymouth. The commanding officer of this detach- 
ment undertook to drive us from the beer-cart before all of 
us had a taste of it ; he rode in among us, and flourished 
3iis sword, with a view to frighten us ; but we refused to 
stir till we were ready, and some of our company called 

him a damned lobster backed , for wishing to drive 

us away before every one had his drink. The man was 
perplexed and knew not what to do. At last the booby 
did what he ought to have done at first — forced the beer- 
seller to drive olF his cart ; but it is the fate of British of- 
ficers of higher rank than this one, to think and act at last 
of that which they ought to have thought and acted upon 
at first. They are no match for the yankees, in contriv- 
ance or in execution. This beer barrel is an epitome of 
all their conduct in their war with x\merica. What old 
woman put the idea into this oificor's head I know not; 
but it is a fact, as soon as the beer barrel was driven off, 
we were all ready to march oiF too ! And few companies 
of vagaijonds hi England ever marched oft' to prison in bet- 
ter spirits; we cheered one another, and laughed at our 
profound leader, until we came in sight of the blaek, bleak, 
and barren moor^ without a solitary bush or blade of 
grass. Some of our prisoners swore that we had march- 
ed the whole length of England, and got into Scotland. 
AVe all agreed that it was not credible that such a hideous, 
barren spot could be any where found in England. 

Our old men-of-wars-men suffered the most. Mar>y of 
these had not set tfieir feet on the earth for seven years, 
and they had lost in a measure, the natural operation of 
their feet and legs. These naval veterans loitered be- 



116 JiURNAL. 

Iiind. attended by a s;uard. In ascending a bill we were 
some distance from tbe main body, and by turning a corner 
tlie rear vas concealed from tbe van. 'Iwoyouua; men 
took advanta2;e of tbis, and jumped over a wall, and lay 
snii^^ under it; but being observed, tbe i^uard fired, which 
alarmed those in tront, when some soldiers pursued them, 
and secin*^ the impossibility of escaping, the young men 
jumped over the wall again, and mixed in with their com- 
panions without their being able to identify their persons. 
Our driver was extremely perplexed and alarmed at our 
daring attempts. 

On crawling up the long and ragged hill, we became 
wearied, and refused to walk so fast as the guard. No 
prudent officer would have driven men on as we were driv- 
en. We should have rested every two or three miles. — 
The sun was sinking below the horizon when we gained 
the top of the hill which commanded a view of Dartmoor 
prisoii. We passed through a small collection of houses 
called PriHcetown, where were two inns. The weather 
was severe after the shower, and we saw the dark-hued 
prisons, whose sombre and doleful aspect chilled our blood. 
Yonder, cried one of our companions, is the residence of 
four thousand five hundred men, and in a few minutes we 
shall add to the number of its wretches. Others said, in 
in that place will be sacrificed the aspiring feelings of 
youth, and the anxious expectations of relatives. There, 
said I, shall we bury all the designs of early emulation. I | 
never felt disheartened before. 1 shed tears when I thought 
of bonie, and of my wretclied situation, and I cursed the 
barbarity of a people among whom we were driven more 
like hogs than fellow men and christians. I had weather- 
ed adverse gales with fortitude ; and never flinched amidst 
severities. " »^ iau^'ht boivstring,*^ was always my motto ; 
bnl here I gave way, for a moment, to despair, and wish- 
ed the string to snap asunder and end my misery ; for I 
hud no! even the consolation of a criminal going to exe- 
cution to brace up the cord of life. The idea of lingering 
out a wretched existence in a doleful prison, dying by 
piece-meals, my flesh wastins: by hun2:er, my frame ex- 
auhlcfi hy tbirst. and my spirits broken down by a tyrant^ 
an«I by josding with misfortunes, 1 could not avoid. If 
deatli, instead of knocking at my prison door, would en- 
ter it at once, 1 would thank the goal deliverer. I am now 



JOURNAL, 147 

comforted M'ith the conviction, that nothing hut an early 
reIiH(»us education eoukl have preserved me at this, and 
some other times of my misery, from destroying myself. 

We soon arrived at the gates of this very extensive pri- 
son, aiMl were admitted into the first yard, for it has seve- 
ral. Vv e there answered to tlie call of our names ; and at 
lenp-th passed tlirou^h the iron ^ates to prison No. 7. We 
requested the turnkey to take in our baggage, as it con- 
tained our bedding; hut it was neglected, and rained ou 
durino- the night; for on this bleak and drizly mountain 
tliere are not more than ninety fair days in the year. It 
took us several days to dry our duds. 

The moment we entered the dark prison, we found our- 
selves jambed in with a multitude ; one calling us to come 
this way, another that ; some halloing, swearing and 
cursing, so that I did not know, for a moment, b;it what I 
had died through fatigue and hard usage, and was actual- 
ly in the regions of the damned. Oh, what a horrid night 
1 here passed ! 

The floors of this reproach to Old England were of 
stone, damp and mouldy, and smelling like a transport. 
Here we had to lay down and sleep after a most weary 
inarch of i5 miles. What apology can be made for not 
having things prepared for our comfort ? Those who have 
been enslaved in Algiers found things very different. The 
food and the lodging were in every respect superior among 
the Mahometans, than amon^ these boasting christians, 
and their general treatment infinitely more humane; some 
of our companions had been prisoners among the Barbary 
powers, and they describe them as vastly more considerate 
than the English. 

After passing a dreadful night, we next day had oppor- 
tunity of examining our prison. It had iron stancheons, 
like those in stables for horses, on which hammocks were 
hung. The windows ha«l iron gratings, and the bars of the 
doors seemed calculated to resist the force of men and of 
time. These things had a singular effect on such of us, as 
had, from our childhood, associated the idea of liberty 
with the name of Old England; but a man must travel be- 
yond the smoke of his own chimney to acquire correct 
jdeas of the characters of men and of nations. — We howev- 
er saw the worst of it at first, for every day our residence 
appeared less disagreeable. 



148 J:©URNAL. 

AVe arrived here the llth of October, and our Jot was 
Ijt'tlcr lliaii that of (liirty of our companions, nho came on 
a IiKIl' al'U'r us from PJymoutli. These 30 men were sent 
from tlie \N csl-lndies, and had no descriptive lists, and it 
>>us necessary tliat tliese men should be measured and de- 
serilunl as to stature, complexion, &c. — Capt. Shortland 
ihcrefore ordered them to be shut up in the prison No. G, 
This was a more cold, dreary and comfortless plaee than 
No. 7. Their bed was nothins; but the cold damp stones, 
and beins: in total darkness they dare not walk about. 
These 30 men had been imprisoned at Barbadoe?, and they 
liad supposed that when they arrived at this famous birtli 
place of liberty, they should not be excluded from all her 
hlessinj;s. They had suft'ered much at Barbadoes, and 
they expected a dift'erent treatment in England ; but alas ! 
Capt. Shortland at once dissipated the illusion and shew- 
ed himself v\ hat Britons really are. The next mornins^ they 
were taken up to Capt. Shortland's office to be described, 
and marked and numbered. One of the thirty, an old and 
respectable Captain of an American ship, complained of 
liis usap^e, and told Shortland that he had been several 
times a prisoner of war, but never experienced such bar- 
barous treatment before. The man only replied that their 
not having iheir beds was the fault of the Turnkey ; as if 
that could ever be admitted as an excuse among military 
men. [ JC?* Far a minute description of Bartmoor Prison, 
sea the engraving. 1^ 

Dartmoor is a dreary spot of itself; it is rendered more 
so l)y the westerly winds blowing from the atlantic ocean, 
which have the same quality and eifects as the easterly 
M ind, blowing from the same ocean, are known to have in 
New-England. This highland receives the sea mist and 
fogs, and they settle on our skins with a deadly dampness. 
Here reigns more than two thirds of the year, the Scotch 
mist, whicli is famous to a proverb. This moor affords 
nothing for subsistence or pleasure. Rabbits cannot live 
on it. Birds lly from it, and it is inhabited, according to 
t lie belief of the most vulgar, by ghosts and daemons ; to 
vhich will now doubtless^ be added, the troubled ghosts 
of the murdered American prisoners ; and hereafter will 
be distinctly seen the tormented spirit of the bloody Capt. 
Sliortiiind, clanking his chains, ^^eeping, wailing and 
gutt^hiiig his teeth I it is a fact that the market people 



have not sufficient courage to pass tin's moor in iho: ingfit. 
They are always sure to leave Princetown by day lipjht, 
not havina: the resolution of |iass5njj this dre.vry, barren 
and hea^ en-abaiiuoned spot in tha dark. Before the bloody 
massacre of our countrymen, th«>i UEliallowed spot was 
believed, by common superstition, to belouijj to the Devil. 

Certain it is, that the eonimon 'peopb; m this neighbor- 
hood >vere impressed with (he uolion that Dartmoor was a 
place less desirable to mortals, and more under the iuOu- 
ence of evil spirits, than any i-tlitr spot in l^ni>:land. I 
shall only say thdt I focnd it, take it ali in all, a less disa- 
greeable prison than the ships ; tlje lif^i of a pru- 
dent, industiious, well behaved man mif^ht here ba 
rendered pretty easy, for a prison life, as was the 
the case witii some of our own ccmntrymen, and some 
Frenchmen ; but the youuf^, the idle, ih? giddy, fun mak- 
ing yo!ith areiierally reaned such fruit as he sowed. 
Gambling: was tl-.e wide inlet to vice and disorder, and in 
this Frenchmen took the lend. These men would play 
away everv tliin«; tliey possessed beyond the clotlies to keep 
them decent. They have been known to game away a 
month's provision, and wiien they had lost it, would shirk 
and steal for a month after for their subsistence. A 
man with some money in his pocket might live pretty well 
tlirough the day in Dartmoor Prison, there being shops and 
stalls where every little article could be obtained; but added 
to this we had a good and constant market, and the bread 
and meat supplied by government were not bad ; and as 
good I presume as that given to British prisoners by our 
own government ; had our lodging and prison-!iouse been 
equal to our food, I never should have com[)lained. The 
establishment was blessed with a good man for a physi- 
cian, named M'Garth, an Irishman, a tall lean gentleman 
■with one eye, but of a warm and good heart. We never shall 
eease to admire his disposition, nor forget his humanity. 

The Frenchmen and our prisoners did not agree very 
well. They quarrelled and somHimes fought, and they 
carried their difterences to that length, that it was deemed 
proper to erect a wall to separate them, like so many game 
cocks in different yards. When this Depot was garrison- 
ed h\ Hi'j:;hlanders, these Scotchmen took part with the A- 
ni' ricans against the French. Here the old presbyterian 
principle of aiiinity operated against the papal oianof si»r 
13 



150 JOURNAL. 

It cannot be denied tliore is a deep rooted liatred behvetJi 
the lii iton and the Frenchman. 

AVhile at Dartmoor Prison, there came certain French 
ofhcL-rs wearins^ tlie \vliite cockade; their object seemed to 
he to converse \vith the prisoners and to persuade them to 
declare ior Louis ISth ; hut they could not prevail; the 
Frenchmen shouted vive PEmpereur! Their attachment to 
Konaparte was remarkably stronoj. He must have been a 
man of wonderful powers to attach all ranks so strongly to 
him. Before the officers left the place, these Frenchmen 
lioisted up a little dog with the white cockade tied under 
his tail. Soon after this the French ofiicers, who appear- 
ed to be men of some consideration left tlie prison. 

1 have myself had notliing; particular to complain of, 
but the prisoners here speak of Captain Hhortland as the 
most detestable of men, and they bestow on him the vilest 
and most abusive epithets. The prisoners began to dig a 
liole under prison No. 0, and had made considerable pro- 
sjress towards the outer wall, when a man, who came from 
Newbury-Port betrayed them to Capt. hhortland This 
man hail, it was said, changed his name in America, on 
account of forgery. — Be that as it may, he was sick at 
Chatham where we paid him every attention, and subscrib- 
ed monev for procuring him the means of comfort. Short- 
land ""ave him two guineas, and sent him to Ireland, or the 
prisoiiers would have hanged him for a traitor to his coun- 
trymen. The hypocritical scoundrel's excuse was con- 
science and humanity, for he told Shortland that we in- 
tended to murder him. and every one else in the neighbor- 
liood. Shortland said he know better; that he was fear- 
ful of our escapiig, but never had any apprehensions of 
personal injury from an American: that they delighted in 
plaguing him and contriving the means of escape, but he 
never saw a cruel or murderous disposition in any of them. 
The instant Capt. Shortland discovered the attempt to 
escape by digging a subterraneous passage, he drove all 
the prisoners into the yard of No. 1, making them take 
their l)agu;age with them; and in a few days after, when 
he thought they might have begun another hole, but had 
not lime lo complete it. he moved them into anotheryard and 
prison, and so he kept moving them from one prison to 
the other, and took great credit to himself for his contriv- 
Qnco,and in this way he harrassed our poor fellows until the 



JOURNAL 131 

ilaj' before onr arrival at the prison. He had said that lie 
vias resolved not to sulTer them to remain in the same baild- 
iiig and yard more than ten days at a time, and this was a 
hardship they resolved not voluntarily to endure ; for the re- 
moval of liaiomocks and furniture and every little article, 
Avas an intolerable grievance ; and the more tlie prisoners 
appeared pestered, tlie sjreater was the enjoyment of Short- 
land. It was observed thai wiienever, in these removals, 
there were much jamming and squeezing and contentions 
for places, it gave this man pleasure; but that the ease 
and comfort of the prisoners gave him pain. The united 
opinion of the prisoners was, that he was a very bad heart- 
ed man. He would often stand on the military walk, or 
ill the market square, wlienever there was any difference, 
or tumult, and enjoy the scene with malicious satisfaction. 
He appeared to delight in exposing prisoners in rainy 
weatiier, without sufficient reason. Tiiis has sent many of 
our poor fellows to the grave, and would have sent more 
had it not been for the benevolence and skill of Dr. Me 
Garth. We thought Miller and Osniore skilled in tor- 
menting, but 8iioitland exceeded them both by a devilish 
deal. The prisoners related to me several instances of 
cool and dellherate acts of torment, disgraceful to a gov- 
eroujent of christians ; for the character aud general con- 
duct of this commander could not be concealed from them. 
He wore the Briiish colours on his house, and acted under 
this emblem of sovereigiilv. 

It was cnsiomary to count over the prisoners twice a 
week ; and after the sweepers hud brushed out the prisons, 
the guard would send to the commander that they were all 
ready for his inspection; on these occasions, Shortland 
very seldom omitted staying away as long as he conven- 
iently could, merely to vex the prisoners, and they at length 
expressed their sense of it; for he would keep them stand- 
ing until they were weary. At last they determined not 
to submit to it; and after waiting a sufficient time, they 
made a simultaneous rush forward, and so forced their pas- 
sage back into tiieir prison-house. To punish this act, 
Shortland stopped the country people from coming into 
market for two days. At this juncture we arrived ; and 
as tSie increase of numbers increased our obstinacy, the 
Captain began to relax, and after tliat, he came to inspect 
the priioiiers, as soon as they were paraded for that pur- 



iS2 JOURNAL. 

pose. It was easy to perceive that the prisoners liad, in a 
threat measure conquered the hard hearted, and vindictive 
C'apt. ?5hor(htnd. 

Tlie roof of* the prison to which we were consigned, was j 
verv leaky, and it rained on this dreary mountain almost ^ 
•on'tinually, phvce our beds wherever we could, they were 
generally wet- We represented this to Capt, Shortland, 
and to our complaint was added that of the worthy and hu- 
mane Dr M'Garth, but it produced no effect, so that to tlie 
ordinary miseries of a prison, we, for a lonj^ time endured 
the additional one of wet lodgings, which sent nianj of our 
countrymen to iheir graves. 

We owe much to the humanity of Dr. M*Oarth, a very 
worthy man, and a native of Ireland. Was ]M'*Tarth com- 
mander of tbis Depot, there would be no difticulty witii 
the prisoners. They would obey him tlirongh affection 
and respect ; because he considers us ratioiial beings, with 
Blinds cullivated like his own, and susceptible of grati- 
tude, and habituated to do, and receive acts of kindness ; 
whereas the y;reat (Japt. Shortland considers us ail as a 
base set of men, degraded below the rank of Englishmen, 
towards whom nothing but rigor should be ex.ten<led. He j 
acted on this false idea, and has reaped the bitter fruit of 1 
his own ill judged conduct. He might, by kind and re- 
spectful usage, have led the Americans to any thing just 
and honorable, but it was not in his power, nor all tl:e Cap- 
tains in his nation lo force them to acknowledge and qui- 
etly submit to his tyranny. 

Dr. M'Garth was a very worthy man, and every prison- 
er loved him ; but M'Farlane, his as«iistant, a Scotchman, 
was the reverse ; in dressing, or bleeding, or in any opera- 
tion, he would handle a prisoner with a brutal roughness, 
that conveyed the idea that he was giving way to tiie feel- 
ings of revenge, or national hatred Cannot a Scotchman 
testify his luinaturnl loyalty to the present reigning family 
of Krigland without treating an American with cruelty 
and contempt ? 

Dr. Dobsoii. tlie snperintendant-pliysician of the Hospit- 
al sliip at Chatham, was a very worthy and very .skillful 
gcnilLMniin. We Americans ouglit never to forget his 
goodness towards us. vSome of us esteem him full as high 
tts Dr. M'Garth, and some more highly. They are both 
however, worthy men, and deserve well uf this country. 



JOURNAL. i3 



There is nothing men vary more in than in their opinion of 
aiiil atlachiJieiit to physicians. Dobson and M'Garth de- 
serve medals of goid, and hearts of gratitude, for their 
kiod atteutioiito us all. 



CHAPTER lY. 



The establishment at Chatham is broken up, and tho 
last 01 the prisoners were marched from Plymouth to this 
place, the 30lh of November. They were marched from 
that place to this, in one day, half leg deep in mud. Some 
lost their shoes ; others, to preserve them, took them off, 
and carried them in their hands. When they arrived 
here, they were indeed olyects of pity ; nevertheless they 
were immediately shut up in a cold, damp prison, without 
any bedding, or any of the ordinary convenietices, until 
they could be examined and described in the commander's 
books ; after which tliey were permitted to mix with the 
rest of their countrymen. AVe found many of them, tho 
day after their arrival, unable to walk, by reason of their 
too long protracted march, in a very bad road. A pru- 
dent drover would not have risked his cattle by driying 
them through such a road in a few hours. Such a thing 
never was done in America, with British prisoners. 

I find all the prisoners here deeply exasperated against 
Captain Shortland, and too much prejudiced to hear any- 
thing in his favor. I presume they have reason for it. 
As 1 have but just arrived, I have had but little opportu- 
nity of* seeing and judging his conduct. Instead of his be- 
ing a bad hearted man, 1 am disposed to believe that the 
fault is in his understanding and education. I suspect 
that he is a man of narrow views ; that he has not suffi- 
cient information or capacity, to form a right judgment of 
the peculiar cast and character of the people under his 
charge. He has never, perhaps, considered, that these 
ilcscendants of Englishmen, the free inhabitants of the new 
world, have been born and brought up in, if we may speak 
so, Indian freedom ; on which freedom has been superin- 
duced an education purely democraticj in schools where 
13* 



^Xg4 " JOURNAL. 

ilearradinc^ punishments are unknown, \vhere if a school- 
raasfcr exeii'ised the severity cointnon in P^nglish and 
German schools, they would tie the master's hands with 
his own bell-rope. He has never considered that our po> 
tent militia choose their own officers, and that the people 
choose all their otheers and leaders from among them- 
>«elves ; and there are very few men indeed, none, per- 
haps, in Vevv England, who would reliise to shake hands 
with a decent yeoman. It is probable that Capt. Short- 
land has never refiected that there are fewer grades of 
men between the lowest white man under his cliarge, and 
tiie highest in America, than there are between him and 
the hi'^hest ranks in Eni^land. He has never considired 
the similarity between the ancient Roman republican, and 
the republican of the United States of America ; nor why 
both republics deemed it abhorrent to infiict stripes oq 
their citizens. ShortJand had not sullicient sagacity to 
discover that playfulness, fun and frolic, formed a strong 
trait in the character of the American sailor and miiuia 
man, for they had hardly become, what is called in Eu- 
rope, soldiers ; drilling and discii)!iHe had not obliterated 
tjje free and easy carriage of a bold and fearless Yankee. 

Sir Guy Carlton, afterwards Lord Dorchester, was 
Governor of (^anada. durins: {he revolutionary war, and 
proved himself a wi*e man. He penetrated the Ameri- 
can ehatacier, and t.'-euted tiie Anieriean pi'isoners cap- 
tirred in Canada, accordingly ; and by doing so, ue came 
near breaking; i;p our army ; for our prisoners were soft- 
ened ajid subdued by his kindness and humanity ; he 
sent them home well clothed, and well fed, and most 
of lliem declared they never \Aould f't<j;hi aoaiiist Sir Guy 
Carlton. He knew the American character thoroughly, 
and was eonvinred that harshness and severity would 
}\i'AQ no other eftVct than to excite revenge aisd hatred. 
On tile other hand our prisoners could have iso very great 
respf'ct for a captain, an officer, which they themselves 
created by their votes, at pleasure ; add to t'iiis, that sev- 
eral ol'the prisoners had the title of captain in their owa 
eouiilry. Had the coiumander of Dartmoor Prison been 
an old woman, the Ainerirans would have respected her 
»('\ and >ears. and obeyed her commaiids ; but tl:ey des- 
pi^'d and hated Shoriland, for his delicienev of head, 
ieart, and cduealiou ; from all which orisriuated those sad 



JOURNAL, 135 

events which have disgraced one nation, and exasperated 
the other forever. Jshortlaud may be excused, when il is 
eonsidered tiiat Kngland lost hei colonies by not studying 
the American character; and the same inattention to tiie 
natnrai operations of the human heart, is now ratiin;>- iier 
gradually up to be the first naval power on the terraque- 
ous globe ; and thus much for conie;npt. 

There was an order that all lights should be put out 
by eight o'clock at night, in every prison, and it was 
doubtless proper ; but this order was carried into -xecu- 
tion with a rigor bordering on barbarity. On tiie least 
glimpse of light discoverable in the prison, the guard, 
would fire in amongst us, and several were shot Sev- 
eral Frenchmen were wounded. This story was told— 
that a French captain of a privateer, the night after he 
first came, was undressing him, by his hammock, when 
the sentry cried, •' Out iiglits P^ The Frencliman not 
nnderstariding English, kept it burning; the sentry fired, 
and scattered hi^ brains over the place ; but this did not 
occur while 1 was there; but this 1 aver, (hat several 
w ere shot, and I wondered that many were not killed, and 
I was shocked at the barbarity of the order. 

About this time, the Derbyshire militia were relieved 
by a regiment of regulars, who had been in Spain. They 
>vere chieiiy Irish, and treated us better than we were 
treated by the militia. They had infinitely more gener- 
o-sity and manliness, as well as more intelligence. They 
acted plays in the cock loft of No. 5. I hey have good 
music, and tolerable scenery, and charge six pence for ad- 
mission, to defray the expense. This is a very pleasant 
way of making the British soldier forget his slavery, and 
the American prisoner his bondage. These generous 
liearled Irishmen would sometimes give us a song in hon^ 
or of o«r naval victories. O, how we did long to be at 
liberty, when we heard songs in honor af the ConstitutioB 
and of the United States. 

Some men are about to be sent oflf to Dartmouth, lo re- 
turn to the United States; this has occasioned us to writt 
letters to our friends and connexions ; but Capt. vShortland 
is very jealous on this head ; he will not allow us to write 
lo any of the neighboring country people. I'he English 
dare not trust their own people, much more the Aiiierie&ii 
taptives. 



IJG JOURNAL. 

This is tlie latter part of the month of Xovember ; and 
the ueutlier has been generaliy rainy, dark, dismal and 
foj^^y. 8onietiines we cojild hardly see the sentinels on 
tlieualls. Sorrow and sadness within; giooni, foj^, or 
driz/ly rain without. If the coHimissicMiers at Ghent do 
not soon make peac-e, uor establish an exchani^e, we shall 
he lost to oiir country, and to hope. The newspapers now 
and then eidiven us with the prospect of peace. We are 
(old that growing; dissentions at Vienna will induce Great 
Britain to get rid of her transatlantic enemy, in order to 
comliat those nearer home. V\ henever we see in the 
newspapers an article captioned '" JS'ews from Ghent,'* 
>ve devour it with our eyes, but instead of substance, j»'eii- 
erally find it empty wind. We are wearied out. I speak 
for myself, and 1 hear the same expression from others. 
Winter is commencing, to add to our miseries. Poor 
clothinc^, miserable lodgina;, poor, and inadequate food, 
loui^ dismal mights, darkness, foul air, bad smells, the 
groans of the sick and distressed, the execrations and 
curses of the half distracted prisoner, the unfeelin^^ con- 
duct of our keepers and commander — all, all, all conspire 
to fill up the cup of our sorrow ; but we hope that one 
drop will not be added after it is brim full, for then it will 
run over, and death will follow. 

JJpcember. Nothin:^ new worth recording ; everyday 
and every night brings the same sad picture, the same 
heart sinking imj)ressions. Until now, 1 could not believe 
that misfortune and confinement, with a deprivation of 
the accustomed food, ease and liberty of our own dear 
country, could have wrought such a change in the human 
person. The young have not only acquired wrinkles, but 
appear dried up, and contracted in body and mind. I can 
easily conceive that a few generations of the human spe- 
cies, passed in such misery and confinement, would pro- 
duce a race of beings, veiy inferior to what we now are. 
The sailor, however, sufters less in appearance than w© 
landsmen ; for my short cruise in a privateer does not en- 
title me to the name of a sailor. How often have I re- 
flected on ray rash adventure ! To leave the house of 
plenty, surrounded with every thing comfortable, merely 
to change the scene, and see the watery world. To quit 
my paternal roof, half educated, to dress wounds, and cut 
oil" limbs ef those who might be mutilated, was about as 



JOURNAL. 157 

mad a scheme as ever giddy yonth engaged in. But re- 
pinina: ^^ ^'^ '^^ ^^ good. 1 must not despair, but make the 
best of my hard lot. If I have lost a portion of ordinary 
education, I have passed the severer scliool of misfortune ; 
and sliould 1 live to leturn to America, 1 must strive te 
turn tliese hardships to the best advantas^e. He who has 
not met adversity, has not seen ihe must profitable part of 
human life. 

Tliere were times, during my captivity, especially in 
the long and cheerless nights, when home, and all its en- 
dearments, rushed on my mind, and when I reflected 
on my then situation, I burst into tears and wept 
aloud. It was then 1 was fearful that i sliould lose my 
reason, and never recover it. Many a time have I thought 
myself into a fever, my tongue covered with a furr, and 
my brain seemed burning up within my skull. It was 
company that preserved me. Had 1 been alone, I should 
have been raving distracted. I had committed no crime ; 
1 was in the service of my country, in a just and necessary 
war, declared by the people of the United States through 
their representatives in Congress, and proclaimed to the 
world by our supreme executive officer, James Madison. 
On this subject i cannot help remarking the ignorance of 
the people of Enghmd. In their newspapers, and in their 
conversation, you wiji constantly find this idea held up, 
that the war was the work of Mr. Madison and Bona- 
parte. This shows their ignorance of the affairs of our coun- 
trv. They are too ignorant to talk with on the constitution 
of our government, and on the character and conduct of 
our administration. It is no wonder that they are aston- 
ished at our victories, by sea and by land, when they arc 
so totally ignorant of our country, of its endless resources, 
of its invincible republican spirit, of its strong govern- 
ment, founded on the affections of the people, and of the 
vigor and all commanding intellect that pervades and di- 
rects ttic whole. 

On the 28th of this month, December, 4815, the news 
arrived here that a treaty of peace was signed the 24th 
instant at Ghent- After a momentary stupor, acclamations 
ol joy burst forth from every mouth. It flew like wild fire 
through tlie iiris»)P : and peace! peace! peace! echoed 
lhroui!,no!it tile^e dreary regions. To know that we were 
soon to return home, produced a sensation of joy beyond 



^58 Journal^ 

the powers of expression. Some screamed, lu.lloued, dan- 
ced, suns;, and capered, like so many Frenchmen. Others 
stood in amaze, with tlieir hands in tlieir pockets, as if 
douhtful of its trutli. In by far the j>'reater part, ijowev- 
er, it cave a glow of health and animation to the wan 
cheek of the half sick, and, hitherto, cheerless f)risonfr. 
Some unfoigivin;2; spirits hail the joyful event as brincjin^ 
them nearer the period of reveK2;e, which they lon^^ed to 
exercise on some of their tyrannical keepers. IMany who 
had meditated escape, and' had hoarded up every penny 
for that event, now brought it forth tospei»d in celebration 
of their regular deliverance. Even hard hearted Short- 
land appeared to bend from the haughty severity of his 
jailor- like manner, and can now speak to an American as 
if he were of the same species with himself. He has eveu 
allowed us to hoist our national colors on those prisons, 
and appears not to be offended at the sound of mirth and 
hilarity, which now echoes throughout these extensive 
mansions. 1 say extensive, for 1 suppose the wliole of 
these prisons, yards, hospitals, slorcs and houses, are 
spread over twenty acres of ground. [See the plate.] 

We calculate that the ratitication of the treaty by the 
president of the United States, will arrive irj England by 
the 1st of April, at which period there wiil nut be an 
American left in this place. The very thougljts of it keep 
us from sleepiui^. Amidst this joy for peace, and for the 
near prospect of our seeing, once more, our dear America, 
there is not a man among us but feels disposed to try again 
the tug of war with the Britons, should she impress and 
flog our seamen, or instigate the savages of the w ilderuess 
tt) scalp and tomahawk the inhabitants of our frontiers. 
T!:is war, and this harsh imprisonment, will add vigor to 
oMr arms, should the people of America a^ain declare, by 
their representatives in congress, that individual oppres- 
sion, or the nation's wrongs, render it expedient to sail or 
march arainst a foe, whose tender mercies are cruelty. 
\\> ^'HU tell our countrymen, when we return home, what 
the liritrdis are, as their prisoners can tell the Entrlish 
what the Americans are. "" By their fruits shall ye know 



them. 



Diirina: this month a number of prisoners have been sent 
to »h(s prisoi from FI\mouth. I'hey came herefrom *!al- 
iftti J they were priuuipully seamen taken out of prizes, 



JOURNAL. 139 

w^iicli the Ena;l5sli retook. Tliey all make similar com- 
plaints of harsh asaji^e, bail and very scanty food, and no 
attention to their health or comfort. There are now, at 
this depot, about Twenty-Three TInndred and Flflij Amer- 
icans, who were impressed, previously to the war, into the 
British service, by linj^lish ships and English press-a;aD;^s, 
They are the stoutest and most hardy looking men in the 
prison. This is ensily accounted for. When the Bntish 
go on board an American merchant ship to look for Eng- 
lish sailors, they adopt one easy rule, viz — they select the 
stoutest, most hardy and healthy looking men, and swear 
that they are Englishmen. After they have selected one 
of these tine fellows, it is in vain that he produces his pro- 
tection, or any other evidence of his American birth and 
citizen ship. 

We learn from these seamen, that as soon as conveyed 
on board the British men af war, they are examined as to 
the length of time they have been at sea, and according to 
the knowledge and experience they appear to have, they 
are stationed ; and if they grumble at the duty assigned 
them, they are called mutinous rascals, and threatened 
with the cat ; the warrant officers are charged to watch 
them closely, lest they should attempt to pervert the crew 
and to prevent them from sending letters from the ship to 
their friends. Should any letters be detected on them, 
the sailors are charged, on pain of the severest punish- 
ment, to deliver them to some of the commissioned officers. 

If they complained of their hard fate to their messmates, 
they were liable to punishment, and if they attempted to 
regain their liberty, and were detected, they were strip- 
ped, tied up and most cruelly and disgracefully whipped 
like a negro slave. Can any thing be conceived more hu- 
miliating to the feelings of men, born and brought up as 
we all are.^ Can we ever be cordial friends with such a 
people, even in time of peace } Will ever a man of our 
country, or his children after him, forgive this worse than 
Algerine treatment } 

Several of the most intelligent of these impressed men 
related to me the particulars of the treatment, they, at 
various times, received, and I had committed them to pa- 
per, but they are too mean, low and disgusting to be re- 
corded. The pitiful evasions, unworthy arts, and even 
falsehoods of some captains of his BritaDoic majesty's line 



jnO JOURNAL. 

of battle ships, wlien a seaman prodacetl his protection, or 
ortcriMl to prove his nativity, or identify his person, as 
niurked in liis descriptive roll, were such, as to make me 
bless my st;\rs that 1 did net beion:^* to their service. 
There tvere, iiowever. some instances of tiubie and sjener- 
ous con (ij« t, \>liic!» came up t » tbe idea we oiiee entertain- 
ed ol E 2,lii^h honor, before tbe solid biillif^n of the En^- 
Jisli OANai rliuructer was beat int<' s'lch tS'in, such very 
tbiii "-old leaf, as to sjild so many th(»i!san<'3 of their epau- 
leltcd seamen. The officers of the L'oictiers were spoken 
of \\iil» respect ; and, by what I could learn, ihe smaller 
tbe ^essL•l, the worse treatment was ^experienced by our 
prisoners, and impressed seamen ; your litlle bio^ men beingj 
always the 1,'reatest tyrants Amonj^ these *.mall fry of 
tlie mistri'ss of tlie ocean. *^ you damned ifcnikce rascal,,'^* 
was a cutniMon epithet. MiAny of tlie impressed seamen 
now here, ba e loid me, that tbey have been lashed to tbe 
c:anaj-way, and most severely w hipped, even to the extent 
ol" Ibree dozen, for refusin<^ to <Io.. what tbe captain of a 
British man oi'uar called, '•• their duty !" Some of tbese 
men have replied. '• it is my duty to serve my own conn- 
trv, and fiirbt ac^ainst its enemies f* and for sayins; so, 
liave been farlher abused. Have ever tbe French. 8pan- 
iar<ls. Portuu;u\se, Italians, Germans, Dutch. Danes, 
Suedes, IJiissiaiis, Prussians, Turks, or j^lg'^rwes treated 
American citizens in tbis way ? And vet our federalists 
can never bear to hear us speak, in terms of resentment, 
as^ainst "• tbe bulwark of our reltsjion ** O, Caleb ! Caleb ! 
thou iiast a bead and so has a beetle.* 

We had all more or less monev from the American ffor- 
ernment, and some of tbf' ini}>ressed men brou2;ht money 
witb tbem. Tbis attracted tbe avaricious spirif of our 
m'iu;bbors ; so that our market was filled, not oniy with 
vet!;etal)les. but animal food. There was also seen'in our 
market, piles of broad cloth, boxes of hats boots, shoes, 
and in:Mi> other articles. The a^reatest pick pockets of all 
were the Jews, with their watches, seals and trinkets, and 

• Wlirn wc have read in the American newspapers, which sometimes 
reachrri Dartmoor prison, the speeches and prncljiniat ions of theguvrrnor 
ol Mawichiiscf's, sonic of us h?\e hlushod Rt the dcgr;d'-fion of our native 
»t,iii •, ilvT. stale which once look the h-f^d in «he oppositien to Biir^in; 
and thai BoUon, once considered the cradle ot liberty, has become amor.^ 
m, a name of reproach. Sucij arc the eftects of an unprincipled faction. 



J©URNAL. 161 

Ijad books. A moral commander would have swept the 
prison clean of such veriiiin. The women who attend our 
market are as sharp as the Jews, and worse to deal with, 
for a sailor cannot beat them down as lie can one of these 
swiiidlino; Israelites. Milk is cheap, only 4d. per gallon, 
but they know how to water it. 

The langjuage and phraseology of these market people 
are very rude. When pulling: off the qualities of their ^oods, 
when they talk very fast, we can hardly understand them. 
They do not speak near so good En2;!is!i as our common 
market people do in America. The best of them use the pro- 
noun hf in a singular manner — as can he pay me ? Can he 
change ? For can yo2t pay me .^ Or you change } I am 
fully of opinion with those who say that the American peo- 
ple, taken collectively as a nation, speak the English lan- 
guage with more purity than the Britons, taken collective- 
ly. Every man or boy of every part of the United States 
would be promptly understood by the men of letters in 
London ; but every man and boy of Old England would not 
be promptly understood by the lettered men in the capital 
towns of America. Is it not the bible that has preserved 
the purity of our language in America .'^ 

I am sorry to remark that the Christmas holy-days have 
been recently marked with no small degree of intoxication, 
and its natural consequence, quarrelling among the pri- 
soners. The news of peace, and the expectation of being 
soon freed from all restraint, have operated to unsettle the 
minds of the most unruly, and to encourage riot. Drink- 
ing, carousing and noise, with little foolish trirks, are now 
too common. Some one took off a shutter, or blind, from 
a window of N"o. 6, and as the persons were not delivered 
up by the standing committee. Captain Shortland punish- 
ed the whole, college fashion, by stopjiing the market, or 
as this great man was pleased wittily to call it, an embar- 
go. At length the men were given up to Shortland, who 
put them in the black hole for ten days. 

To he a cook is the most disagreeable and dangerous 
office at this depot. They are always suspected, watched 
and hated, from an apprehension that they defraud the 
prisoner of his just allowance One was flogged the oth- 
er day for skimming the fat off the soup. The grand Vi- 
zier's office at Constantinople, is not more dangerous than 
a cook's at this prison, where are collected four or five 
i4i 



XQ2 JOURNAL. 

llioiisnTitl ImTigry American sons of liberty. Tlie prison- 
ers tiike it upon themselves to punish these pot-skimmers 

in llieir own way- 

We have in lliis collection of prisoners, a gang of hard- 
fisted f<jllo\vs,M ho call themselves" the rough allies.*' 
Tliey have assumed to themselves the ofHce of accuser, 
judge and executioner. In my opiniun, they are as great 
\ illains as could be collected if» the United States. Tbey 
appear lo have little principle, and as little humanity, 
and many of tlieni are given up to every vice ; and yet 
(bese ragamuffins have been allowed to hold the scale and 
T<)i\ of justice. These roiig;h allies make summary uork 
vvitli the accused, and seldom fail to drag him to punish- 
ment. 1 am weaned out with such lawless conduct. 

January 30th. The principal conversation among the 
most considerate is, when will the treaty be returneil, rat- 
ified ; for knowing the high character of our commission- 
ers, none <lonbt but that the President and Senate will rat- 
ify, what they have approved. We are all in an uneasy 
and unsettled state of mind ; more so than before th.e news 
of peace. B»fore that news arrived, we had settled down 
in a degree of despair; but now we are preparing and 
planning our peaceable departure from this loathsome 
place. 

I would ask tlie reader's attention to the conduct of capt. 
Shortland. the eomman<ling officer of this depot of prison- 
ers, as well as to the conduct of the men under his charge, 
as the conduct and events of this period have led on to a 
tragedy that has filled our native land with mourning and 
indignation. 1 shall aim at truth and impartiality, and 
the reader may make such allowance as our situation may 
naturally aiFord, and his cool judgment suggest. 

In the month «f January, lSi5, captain Shortland com- 
menced a practice of counting over the prisoners out of 
their respective prisons, in the cold, raw air of tlie yard, 
vhere we were exposed above an hour, unnecessarily to 
the severity ef the weather. After submitting to this ca- 
price of our keeper, for several mornings, in hopes he 
would be satisfied as to the accurate number of the men 
in prison, we all refused to go out again in wet and raw 
leather. Shortland pursued his usual method of stop- 
ping the market ; but finding that it had no effect, he de- 
termined on using force; and sent Lis soldiers into the 



JOURNAL. 163. 

yard, aiii] orJered them to drive the prisoners into prison 
in the middle of the afternoon, wliereaa they hereiotore re- 
mained out until tile sun had set, and tiien they all went 
quietly into their dormitories. The rej^iment of rei^ulars 
had been withdrawn, and a reajinient of Somersetshire mi- 
Mtia had taken their place, a srt of stiijiid fellows, and 
^.'nerally speaking, ii^norant olfiaers. Fhe rej^imeut of 
ri-'i^ulars were clever fellows, and Sliortland was awed liy 
their character; l)ut he felt no awe, or respect, fur these 
irre2,'iilars. 

The prisoners told the soldiers that this was an unusual 
time of day for them to leave the yard, and ihat ihey would 
U'ii tamely submit to such caprice. Tlie soidiei'S could 
oiily answer by repeatin^^ their orders. More soldiers 
were sent for, but they took special care to assume a po- 
sition to secure their protection. The soldiers bei^an now 
lo use force with their bayonets. All this time Shorlland 
stood on the military walk with the major of t.he regiment, 
observing tiie progress of his orders. Our men stood their 
ground. On observing this opposition, S'lortland became 
enraged, and ordered the major to give the word for the 
soldiers to fire. The soldiers were drawn up in a half cir- 
cle, to keep them from scattering. 

We were now hemmed in between No. 7. and tlio wall, 
that divided this from the yard of \o. 4. 1 he major tlieii 
a;ave orders to the o'licer in the yard, to cliarge bayonet. 
This did not occasion our prisoners to retreat; tiiey ratti- 
er advaneejl ; and some of thesn told the soldiers, llial if 
tiiey pricked a single man, they would disarm them. 
Shorlland was watching all these movements from iiehind 
tlie gate; and finding that he had not men enough to drive 
tiiem in, drew his soldiers out of the yard. After this, the 
prisoners went into the prison of tJieir own accord, when 
the turnkey sounded a horn. 

These militia-men have been somewhat intimidated by 
the tlireatenings of tlie •' rough allies," before mentioned. 
These national guards thought they could diive us about 
Jike so many Frenchmen; but they have found their mis- 
take. A man escaped from the black-hole, who had been 
condemned to remain in it during the war, for attempting 
to blow up a sliip. The prisoners were determined to pro- 
tect him ; and when Shortland found that tiie prisoners 
would not betray him into his hands, he resorted to his 



l€4 JOUHNArL. 

usual embargo of the market, and sent Ins soldiers in after 
the prisoner; but he miglit as well have sought a needle 
ill a hay-mow ; for such was the difficulty of finding an in- 
dividual among sir thousand. They ransacked every 
hlrtjj, and lurking place, and passed frequently by the man 
without beiiigable to identify him. The prisoners mixed 
in so entirely with the soldiers, tliat the latter could not 
act, and were actually fearful of being disarmed. When 
these Somersetshire militia found that we were far from 
being afraid of them, they ceased to be insolent, and treat- 
ed us with something like respect. There was a consider- 
able degree of friendship between us and the late regiment 
of regulars, who were gentlemen, compared with these 
militia. 

There are about four hundred and fifty negroes in pris- 
on No. 4, and this assemblage of blacks affords many cu- 
rious anecdotes, and much matter for sjjecuiation. These 
blacks have a ruler among them whom they call king bick, 
fie is ly far the largest, and 1 suspect the strongest man in 
the prison. He is six feet iive inches in height, and pro- 
port iouahly large. This black Hercules commands re- 
spect, and his subjects tremble in his presence. He goes 
the rounds every day, and visits every birth to see if they 
are all kept clean. When he goes the rounds, he puts on 
a large bear-skin cap, and carries in his hand a huge 
club li' any of his men are dirty, drunken, or grossly 
negligent, he threatens them with a beating, and if they 
are saucy, tJiey are sure to receive one. They have sev- 
( ral times conspired against him, and attempted to de- 
throne him : but he has always conquered the rebels. One 
night several attacked him while asleep in his hammock ; 
he sprang up and seized the smallest of them by his feet, 
and thumped another with him. The poor negro who had 
thus been made a beetle of, was carried next day to the hos- 
pjial. sadly bruised, and provokingly laughed at. This rul- 
fr oC llic blacks, this king Richard the IVth, is a man of 
good uiiderstauditig, and he exeieises it to a good purpose, 
h'aiky one of his color cheats, defrauds, or steals from his 
comrades, he is sure to be punished for it. Negroes are 
generally reputed to be thieves. Their faculties' are com- 
monly found to be inadequate to the comprehension of the 
moral syslen* ; and as to the christian system, their no- 
l*on» of it; generally speaking, are a. burlesque ta every 



JOURNAL, >v iQS 

thing serious. The punishment which these hlaclis are 
disposed to inflict on one another for stealing, partakes of 
barbarity, and ouglit never to be alloued, where the whites 
have the control of them. 

Beside his majesty ICing Dick, these black prisoners 
have among them a priest, who preaches every Sunday. 
He can read, and lie gives good advice to his brethren ; 
and his prayers are very much in the strain of what w^ 
have been used to hear at home. In the course of his ed- 
ucation, he has learnt, it is said, to know the nature of 
crimes and punishments ; for, it is said, that while on 
hoard the Crown Prince prison-ship, at Chatham, he re- 
ceived a dozen iaslies for stealing some clothing ; but wa 
must make allowance for stories ; for preachers have al- 
ways complained of the calumnies of their enemies, if his 
w hole history was known and correctly narrated, he might 
be found a duly qualified preacher, to such a congregation 
as that of prison No. 4. 

This black man ha? a good deal of art and cunning, aiir! 
has drawn several whiles into his church ; and his per- 
formances have an imposing cast, and are oiten listened to 
^Vilh seriousness. lie appears to have learnt his sersiions 
and prayers from a diligent reading of goad books ; but, 
as to the christian system, the man has no more idea of it 
than he has of the New Jerusalem ; but then his good sen- 
tences, delivered, frequently, with great warmth, and his 
&triug of good advice, given in the negro dialect, makes, 
altogether, a novelty, that attracts many to hear him ; and 
he certainly is of service to the blacks ; and it is a fact, 
that the ofttcers have heard him hold forth, Vf ithout any 
expressions of ridicule, while the majoritv of these miser- 
able people are too niiieh depraved to pay any serious at- 
tention to his advice. 

It is curious to observe the natural al!»> nee between 
king Dick and this priest. Dick honors aud protects liiin, 
while the priest inculcates respect and obedience to tbis 
Richard the Mh. Here we see the union of church and 
state in niiuiature. Who told this negro that to maintain 
this influence, he must rally round the liuge club of the 
strongest and most powerful man in this black gang of 
sitmers .? And who lold king Dick that his nervous arm 
and massy dub, were iusuilieient without the aid of the 
preaL-herof terror i Neither of them had read or heard of 



m 
^ 



i5j JOURNAL, 

Macliiavel. "NVho tuuc;lit this blaek orator, that (he 
jiriesihood must seek shelter behind the throne, fnnn the 
Jioslilities uf reason ? And who told " the rough allies,'- 
the Jane/arics of this imperium in imperio, that they must 
a>sist and countenance both ilick and the priest ? The sci- 
ence ori^tiveinnient is not so deep and complicated a thing 
as kii)a;-era!'t and priest-eral't would make us believe, since 
Ihese rude ptopie, almost deservina; the name of a bandit- 
ti, threw themselves into a sort of ^^overnment, that is to 
be discerned in the early stages of every government. The 
l(>ve of power, of inftaence, and of distinction, is clearly 
tliscurnible, even among the prisoners at Dartmoor. 

IJeside king Dick, and Simon, tiie priest, there wa» 
nucjtiier black divine, named John. He had been a serv- 
urjl of Edward, duke of Kent, third son of the present kin 
«ii' England ; on which account, black John assumed no 
small stale and dignity. He left the service of his royal 
highness, and was found on board an American ship, and 
•was pressed from tlienee into a British man of war, where 
)»e served a year or two, in the station of captain's slew- 
xrd ; but disliking the service, he claimed his release as ata 
American, aixl was sent with a number of other pressed 
«ien, lo the prisos-ships at Chatham, and he came to this 
prison wivh a ;>nmber of oth*ir Africans. After king Dick, 
and feiiJiOJi, tits priest, black John was the nerit man of the 
iT:j)st couseufieju'e among the negroes; and considering his 
/iiuiily connecliun, and tliat he knew how to read and 
«rilc, it is not much to bo wondered at. Jolm conceived 
llial his kifluence with his royal hiu-hness was sufficient ta 

* 

rncourage him to write to the duke to get him set at liber= 
ly, who actually applied to tlie trar.sjiort board with that 
view; but they could not grant it. lie received, however, 
a letter fronj ('apt. Hervy, the duke's secretary, on the 
su!)jcct, who .-rthlcd, that as he had been so unwise as to re- 
fuse U> serve !ii> m;tjesty, he must sutfer for his folly. We 
have been parlifuiar in tills anecdote, and we request our 
)i'jid<;i!5 to ueai- it in inir:d, when wo shall come to contrast 
ibis pi(tii]j)t answer of tlie royal duke to the letter of a ne- 
£:ro, whU tlie conduct of Mr*. B. our agent for prisoners. 
'I fte prisoirers themselves noticed it, andenvied the negro^ 
"bile they execrated the hiiugi.ty, unfeeling agent, ^^ho 
fcj-ldom, or ever answered their loiters, or tuuk any notice 
•♦•f ibiir iip^:Iieatioiis. 



JeiTRNAL» 167 

The poor negro consoled himself for his disappointment 
by turning christian; and being a pretty clever fellow, and 
having formerly belonged to tlie royal family, it was con- 
sidered an act of kindness and magnanimity, tt raise him 
to the rank of deacon in Simon's church. Deacon John 
o«enerally acts as a privy coutisellor to the king, and is 
sometimes a judge in criminal cases, when his majesty al- 
lows of one, v/hich is not very often ; for he most common- 
ly acts in as despotic and summary a manner as the dey of 
Algiers himself. 

king Dick keeps a boxing-school, where the white men 
are sometimes admitted. No. 4 is noted, also, for fencing, 
dancing and music ; and, however extraordinary it may ap- 
pear, they teach these accomplisliments to the white men, 
A person, entering the cock-loft of No. 4, would be highly 
amused with the droll hcenery which it exhibited, and if 
his sense of smelling be not too refined, may relish, for a 
little while, this strange assemblage of antics. Here he 
may see boxing, fencing, dancing, raffling, and other 
modes of gambling ; and to this, we may add, drawing with 
ehaik and charcoal, and tricks of slight of hand, and all 
this to graliiy the eye; and for the sense of hearing, he 
may be regaled with' the sound of clarionets, flutes, vio- 
lins, liagelets, tifes, tambarines, together with the whoop- 
ing and singing of the negroes. On Sundays this den of 
thieves is transformed into a temple of worship, when Si- 
mon, the priest, mounted on a little stool, behind a table 
covered with green cloth, proclaims the wonders of crea- 
tion, and salvation to the souls of true believers; and heli 
fire and brimstone, and weeping, and wailing, and gnash- 
ing of teeth, to the hardened and impenitent sinner, and 
obstinate rebel^of proffered mercy. As he approaches the 
end of his discourse, he grows warmer and warmer, and, 
foaming at the mouth, denounces all the terrors of tlie 
law against every heaven-daring, God-provoking sinner, 
I have frequently noticed the eftect of this black man's or- 
atory upon some of his audience. While he has been thus 
fhumiering an«l liglktning, sullen moans and hollow groans 
issue from different parts of the room, a proof that his 
zealous harrangue Sidemnizes some of his hearers, while 
the greater part of them are making grimaces, or betray- 
ing marks of impatience 5 but no one dare be riotous, as 
Tiear the preacher sat his majesty king Uickj with his ter* 



l^ft JOURKAL. 

riljle club, ami huge bear-skin cap. The members of the 
chiiri'h sdt ill an htiit* circle nearest the priest, while those 
who had never passed over the tlireshold of grace, stood 
bi'hiuil them. 

A little dispute, if not quite a schism, has existed be- 
tween Simon, the priest, and deacon Jolin. The latter, 
while in the family of a royal duke, had learned that it was 
proper to read prayers, already made, and printed to their 
liands: but Simon said, he should make but few converts 
if lie read his prayers, lie said that prayers ought to 
sprini; at ouce, warm from the heart : and that reading 
prayers was too cold a piece of work for him or his church. 
But John said, in reply, that reading prayers was practiced 
by his royal highness the duke of Kent, and all the noble 
families in England, as well as on board all his Britannic 
majesty's ships of war. But Simon, who had never wait- 
ed on royalty, nor ever witnessed the religious exercises of 
an English man of war, would not believe this practice of 
the British nation ouijiht to have weis:ht with the reformed 
christians of the United States. There was a diversity of 
opinion in t'le black church, and the dispute <>nce grew so 
warm, that Simon told John, that it was his opinion, that 
he who could not pray to his God, without a book, would 
Lie damned. 

His majesty king Dick finding that this dispute might 
endanger the peace of the church, and, possiuly, diminish 
his ov^ n influence, advised that the dispute should be left to 
the decision ol' a neighboring inetho'.Hst preacher, who 
sometimes visited the prison, in a labor of love. The 
preacher came and heard, patiently, the arguments of both 
sides, and finally decided, as king Dick doubtless foresaw, 
in favor of Simon; He said that the reason why his royal 
liiglniess the duke of Kent, and all the royal family, and 
all the nobility and parliament-men read their prayers, 
was, because they had not time to make them, each one for 
himself Now Deacon John was a better reasoner thau 
Simon, but Simon had the most cant ; and he, of course, 
prevailed. It is probable that John had coni*lu<led, tliat if 
he could e:'.rry a vote fo^* reading prayers, he, himself, 
would be the reader, and then he should become as conspic- 
uous as Simon. Emulation, and the desire of disnnefion, 
tlie great, ai.'d indeed main-spring of this world, was a.^ 
apparent among these degraded sods uf -iVfriCwi, ab among 



JOURNAL. 16t> 

any white j^entlemen and ladies in the land. John's am- 
bition, and his envy, operated jjst like the ambition and 
envy of* white people. At length, when the deacon found 
that, since the decision of the methodist, his sup[>orters de- 
serted him, he made liis mind up to follow the current, and 
to justify his conduct by incsjlcating a spirit of conciliation 
and union. This shrewd fellow knew, that if he did not 
follow the current, he should lose the privilege of silting 
at the end of the table, opposite to Simon, and of leaning 
his head on the great bible, while Simon was preaching; 
privileges too great to be slighted in such a church, and 
directly after a religious dispute. 

Since 1 returned home, and while transcribing this jour- 
nal for the press, I have thought that the conduct of dea- 
con John was from the self same principle with that which 
actuated the federalists, since the dissolution and disgrace 
of tiie Hartford Convention. This faction found them- 
selves after the peace, and after the battle of New Orleans, 
going fast down the stream of popular opinion ; and then 
it was that they preached up conciliation, liberality, and 
union ; then it was they caught hold of the skirts of the 
land and naval herees ; nay, they went so far as to hail 
Jefferson and Madison as brother Unitarians J In shorty 
the situation of black John, and the federalists of Massa- 
chusetts, was exactly the sam.e, and their conduct in every 
point, similar; and the leading federalists of Boston have 
been left, like the deacon of the negro congregation, in 
No. 4>, Dartmoor prison, to sleep upon the great bible. 

Simon, the priest, enjoyed one great and envied privi- 
lege, which John never pretended to, namely, an acquaint- 
ance and intercourse with the angel Gabriel. He had many 
revelations from this celestial messenger, and related them 
to his church. They related principally to the fare of his 
fellow prisoners ; one, in particular, he told to his church 
with awe and solemnity. 

I saw, said he, a great light, shining only through the 
grates of one window, before the hour of day break. I 
looked up, and saw someth.ng like a man with wings, I 
was at first frightened, and cried out, " who cumes dare ;** 
for I could not see his face. Directly the bars of the win- 
dow bent each way, and his head and shoulders came in, 
when 1 knew him to be the angel Gabriel. " Simon," said 
he, "I am come to tell you that this prison will be siiak 



i:o 



JOURNAL. 



bpforc foity (lays, because its inhabitants are so wicked.'' 
JJcn J tank'hini, uimI be .Irevv back his head again, and the 
ircMi bivrs uere restored to their place again, when he 
spread out i>is win-s, which were covered with ten thous- 
and stars, witich niade a great iigiit when he flew away. 
8nch was the nn't!»od used, by this artful black man, to 
rouse hiscouiitiymen out of the sink of vice ; and it had 
the desired eiVect. This prediction solemnised sevens! of 
the negroes, and luid more or less effect upon all of them. 
Thev became more liberal iu their contributions, which 
tMiabled Simon to purchase a new green coat. It seemed 
as if the most profligate of these fellows, had a secret 
dread of Simon's prediction, and were willing to gain his 
favor by contributions instead of repentance. Has not this 
disposition founded churches, monasteries and nunneries.^ 
Many of Simon's church are strongly impressed with the 
apprehension, of the prison sinking within forty days. 

These blacks have been desirous of having their prison 
the centre of amusement. They act plays twice a week, 
and as far as close imitation of what they have seen and 
heard, and broad grimace, they are admirable, but they 
are, half the time, ignorant of the meaning of the words 
(hey utter. The gate ways and cenlry boxes are pluister- 
ed o\er with play-bills, announcing — Othello, for the 
first time, by Mr' Robinson — Desd'emona, by Mr. J:mes. 
1 seldom failed to attend these exhibitions, and must con- 
fess that I never before or since, or perhaps ever s!>all 
laugh so heartily as at these troglodyte dramas. Their 
acting was assuredly the most diverting beyond all com- 
parison or example I ever saw. Tiiey would cut so many 
ncgroish capers in tragedy, grin and distort their counte- 
nances in such a variety of iniiuman expressions, while 
they kept their bodies either stilf as so many stakes, or in a 
monkeyish wriggle, and ever and anon such a baboon stare 
at Desdemona, whose face, neck and hands were covered 
w iih chalk and red paint to make him look like a beauti- 
ful white lady — was altogether, considering that they 
themselves were very serious, the most ludicrous exhibi- 
tion of two le.ged ridiculousness 1 ever witnessed. In the 
midst of my loud applauses, I could not, when my sore 
Rides would allow me to articulate, help exclaiming — O ! 
fchakespeare! Shakespeare! — O! (jarrick ! Garrick I — 
what would 1 uot give (a despised American prisoner 



JOURNAL. 171 



ceiild I raise yen from tlie dead, that joii miglit see the 
black conscquenees of your own Iransecinleiit geniuses ! — ■ 
M'iien Gurrifk rubbed liimself over with burnt coik to 
Kiake himself iook like a Moor, or with himp-bhick to re- 
semble Munt^o, it did pretty well ; but for a nej^ro man to 
cover his forehead, neck and hands with cliiilk, and his 
cheeks with vermillio,n, to make him look like an En^dish 
or American beauty, was too much. Had I been j^oingup 
the ladder to be hanged, I should liave lau2;hed at this 
siglit ; for to all this ontrageous grimace, was added, a 
fantastic hai)iliment, and an odour from Desdemona and 
company, that associated the ideas of the skunk and the 
polecat. I presume that their august majesties, the em- 
peror and empress of Hayti, have some means of destroy- 
ing this association of ideas, so revolting to Americans. 

After ali, tliis may be in ns a disgust grounded more in 
prejudice than nature. What we call delicacy is a refine- 
ment of civilization, and of course a departure from na- 
ture. See how the brutes enjoy rolling and wallowing ir» 
nhat we call dirt ; next to them, we may observe the love 
of what ive call filth in savages, and of those persons in 
onr cities who stand nearest to them. Extreme cleanli- 
ness is the ott'spring of riches, leisure, luxury and extreme 
refinement; nevertheless it is true what Swift says, that 
'• persons with nice minds have nasty ideas." I suffered 
greatly, and so did many of our countrymen, on our first 
acquaintance with filth and vermin in this our British cap- 
tivity. Many a time have I got up from my dinner as hun- 
gry as I set down, when disgust has been greater than ap- 
petite. I have gradually surmounted antipathies I once 
thou!>ht insurmountable. I am not the only one who has 
often retired from our disgusting repast, to my bunk or 
sleeping birth, in silent agony, there to breathe out to my 
Maker, woes too great for utterance. O, Britain ! Bri- 
tain ! will there not be a day of retribution for these thy 
cruelties ! 

There are some in this dismal prison, who have been 
used all their lives, not to conveniencies only, but to deli- 
cacies ; who are obliged to submit to the disagreea!)les of 
this uncivilized mode of incarcerating brave men, for oua 
of the first of Grecian, Roman, English and American 
virtues, the love of country, or patriotism. These unfor- 
tunate men, witJi miads far elevated hevond the officers 



j'72 JOURNAL. 

wlio are placed here to i^nard and to torment them, sub- 
mit to tlicir confinement with a better c^raee than one 
coiild have ex|>ec';ed. VVIieii these men have eaten their 
stinted ration, vilely cooked, and hastily served up, they 
return to tlieir hanimoeks, or sleepins:^ births, and tliere 
try " to stppy thfir senses in forgetfulness^'* until the reeur- 
renee of the next disj^nsting meal. On the other hand, 
some have said that tliey never befo>e eat with such a 
keen appetite, and their only complaint has been, that 
there was not one quarter enoui^h for tiiem to devour. 
Some have since said, that they devoured their daily al- 
lowance at Dartmoor, with more relish than they ever 
have since, when set down at taljles, covered, as our Amer- 
ican tables are, with venison, poultry, the finest fish and 
the hest fruits of our country, with choice old cider, and 
good foreij^n wines. 

A thinp^ very disagreeable to me, arose from causes not 
occasioned by the enemy. 1 have been squeezed to sore- 
ness hv a crowd of roug-h, overhearina: men, who oft times 
appeared to be indifferent whether they trampled you un- 
der feet or not. The " rou»;h allies,'^ so called, had no 
feelinu; for men smaller and weaker than themselves. 
From this gan*^, you could seldom get a civil answer. 
'I'heir yells, and whooping, more like savages than white 
men, were very troublesome. The conduct of these, prov- 
ed that it was natural for the strong to tyrannize over the 
weak. I have often thought that our assemblage of pris- 
oners, resembled very much the Grecian and Roman de- 
niocracies, which were far, very far, beneath the just, ra- 
tional, and wisely guarded democracy of our dear Ameri- 
ca, for whose existence and honor we are all still heartily 
disposed to risk our lives and spill our hlood. 

As not allowing us prisoners a due and comfortable por- 
tion of clean food, is the heavy charge I have to make a- 
gainst the British nation, 1 shall here, once for all, at- 
tempt to describe the agonies I myself felt, and observed 
others to endure, from cravings of hunger— which are keen 
descriptions in young men, not yet arrived to their full 
growth. — The hungry prisoner is seen to traverse the al- 
leys, backwards and forwards, with a gnawing stomach 
ami a haggard look ; while he sees the fine white loaves 
on the tabh's of the bread-seller, m hen all that he possess- 
es cannot buy a single loaf. I have known many men 



JOURNAL. 173 

tremble, and become sick at their stomachs, at the sight of 
bread they could not obtain. Sometimes a prisoner has 
put away a portion of his bread, and sworn to himself that 
lie would not eat it until such an hour after breakfast ; he 
has, however, gone to it, and fjicked a few crumbs from it, 
and replaced it; and sometimes he could no longer resist 
the grinding torments of hunger, but devoured with more 
than canine appetite ; for it must be understood that the 
interval between the evening and morning meal was the 
most distressing. An healthy, growing young man, feels 
very uncomfortable if he fasts five hours ; but to be without 
food, as we often were, for fourteen hours, was a cruel neg- 
lect, or a barbarous custom. Our resourse from hunger 
was sleep ; not but that the sensations of hunger, and the 
thoughts of the deprivation, often prevented me from get- 
ting asleep ; and at other times, when wrapt in sleep, I 
have dreamed of setting down to a table of the most deli- 
cious food, and most savoury meats, and in the greatest 
profusion ; and amidst my imagined enjoyment, have wak- 
ed in disappointment, agony and tears. This was the 
keenest misery I ever endured, and at such times, have I 
cursed the nation that allowed of it, as being more barba- 
rous than Algerines or wild Indians. The comparative 
size of the pieces of beef and bread is watched with a keen 
and jealous eye ; so are even the bits of turnip in our soup, 
lest one should have more than the other. 1 have noticed 
more acts of meanness and dishonesty in men of respecta- 
ble character, in the division and acquisition of the arti- 
cles of our daily food, than in any other transaction what- 
ever. Such as they would despise, were hunger out of the 
question. The best apology 1 can make for the practice 
of gaming is, the hope of alleviating this most abominable 
system of starvation. Had we been duly and properly fed, 
we never should have run so deeply into the hell of gamb- 
ling. We did not want money to buy clothing, or wine, or 
rum, but to buy beef, and bread, and milk. I repeat it, all 
the irregularities, and, finally, the horrors and death, 
that occurred in a remarkable manner, in this den of des- 
pair, arose from the British system of seanly food for 
young men, whose vigorous systems, and habits of being full 
fed,demandedathird more solid flesh meat, than would sat- 
isfy a potatoe-eating Irishman, an «at-feedin:!j Scotchman, 
or an half starved English manufacturer. After we have 
15 



^74 JOURNAL. 

finished our own dinners in New England, we 2:ive ta our 
cats and do^-s, and other domestic animals, more solid 
nourishment, the remnant of our meals, than what we had 
often allowed us in the ships and prisons of •' the worWs 
last hope,"" Pickering's "fast anchored isle." 

Among the abuses of Dartmoor prison, was that of al- 
lowing- Jews to come among us to buy clothes, and the al- 
lowino" some other people, worse than Jews, to cheat us in 
the articles we purchased. How far our keepers went 
" snacks" with these harpies, we never could know. We 
only suspected that they did not enjoy all their swindling 
privileges gratuitously. Before the immoral practice of 
gambling was introduced and countenanced, it was no un- 
usual thing to see men in almost every birth, reading, or 
writing, or studying navigation. I have noticed the prog- 
ress of vice in some, with pain and surprise. I have seen 
men, once respectable, give examples of vice that I cannot 
describe, or even name i and I am fearful that some of our 
young boys, may carry home to their hitherto pure and 
chaste country, vices they never had any idea of when they 
left it. 1 believe Frenchmen, Italians, and Portuguese, are 
much worse examples for our youth, than English, Irish, 
or Scotchmen. 1 must say of the British that they are 
generally men of far better habits and morals than some 
of the continental nations. But enough, and more ihaa 
enough, on the depravity of the oldest of the European na- 
tions. 

February 2Sfh, 1S15. — Time hangs heavily on the wea- 
ry and restless prisoner. His hopes of liberation, and his 
anxiety, increase daily and hourly. The Favorite ! The 
Favorite^ is in every one's mouth; and every one fixes the 
dayoflier arrival. We have just heard that she was 
spoken near the coast of America, by the Sultan, a British 
^4, on the 2d day of February. If so, then she must ar- 
rive in a few days, with the news of the ratification or re- 
jection of the treaty of peace, by Mr. Madison ; and on this 
great event our happiness depends. Some of the English 
merchants are so confident that our president will ratify 
the treaty, that they are sending vast quantities of Eng- 
lish manufactures out to Halifax, to be ready to thrust in- 
to the ports of America, as soon as we shall be able, le- 
gally, to admit them. It is easy to perceive that the Eng- 
lish are njuch more anxious to send us their productions, 
than we are to receive them. 



JOURNAL. 175 

Our anxiety increases every day. We inquire of every 
one, the news. We wait witli impatience for the newspa- 
pers, and when we receive them are disappointed ; not 
finding in them what we wish. Tiiey, to besure, speak of 
the sitting of the Vienna Congress ; and we have been ex- 
pecting, every day, that this political old hen had hatched 
out her various sort of eggs. We expected that her mot- 
ley brood would aiford us some fun. Here we expected to 
see a young hawk, and tliere agoslin, and next a strutting 
turkey, and then a dodo, a loon, an ostrich, a wren, a mag- 
pie, a cuckoo, and a wag-tail. But the old continental hen 
has now set so long, that we conclude that her eggs are 
addled, and incubation frustrated. During all this time, 
the Gallic cock is on his roost at Elba, with his head un- 
der his wing. 

We but now and then get a sight of Cobbett's Political 
Register; and when we do, we devour it, and destroy it, 
before it comes to the knowledge of our Cercebrus. This 
writer has a manner sui generis^ purely his own ; but it is 
somewhat surprising, how he becomes so well informed of 
the actual state of things, and of ihe feelings and opinions 
of both parties in our country. His acuteness, his wit, his 
logic, and his surliness, form, altogether, a curious por- 
traiture of an English politician. We, now and then, get 
sight of American papers, but tliey are almost all of them 
federal papers, and contain matter more hostile to our 
government than the English papers. Tlie most detesta- 
ble paper printed in London is called, " The Times,*' and 
that is often thrown in our way ; but even this paper is not 
to be compared to the '•' Federal Republican," printed at 
Washington or Georgetown, or to the Boston federal pa- 
pers. When such papers are shown to us by the English 
here, we are fairly brought up, and know not what to say, 
I cannot answer, precisely, for the impressions governor 
Strong's speeches and proclamations have made on others, 
1 can only answer for myself. They very much surprised 
and grieved me. I was born in the same county where Mr. 
Strong resided, and where, 1 believe, he has always lived, 
and I had always entertained a respect for his serious 
character, and have, from my boyhood, considered him 
among the very sensible men, and even saints of our coun- 
try ; and all my connections and relations gave their votes 
for good Caleh Strong, on whose judgment and public cou- 



t^6 JOURNAL. 

duct, my parents taught me to rely, with as much confi- 
deiiee as it* he liad actually been a thirteenth apostle. 
Judo-e then uliat must have been my surprise, on reading 
his proclamations for fasts and thanks£;iviugs, and his 
speeches and messages to the legislature, and his conduct 
relative to the general government and the militia; and 
above all, for his strange conduct in organizing a conven- 
lion of malcontents at Hartford, in Connecticut, No event 
in New England staggered me so much. When we learnt 
that he proclaimed Englafid to be '* the bulwark of the ho- 
ly religion we profess^'' 1 concluded that it was a party ca- 
lumny, until I saw its confirmation, in the attempts of his 
friends to vindicate the assertion. 1 then concluded, that 
one of two things must have existed ; either Mr. Strong 
had become superannuated and childish, or that the Eng- 
lish Faction had got behind his chair of government, and 
under the table of the counsel-board, and in the hollow 
paunels of his audience chamber, and completely bewitch- 
ed our political Barzilla. 1 suspected that gang of Jesuits, 
the Essex Junto, had put out his eyes, and was leading 
liim into danger and disgrace. It is undeniable, that gov- 
ernor Strong has, in his public addresses, sided more with 
the declared enemy, Britain, than with his own national 
government ; and that he has said a great deal, tending to 
encourage the enemy to persist in their demands, and to 
pursue the war, than he has to discourage them. It ap- 
pears, in truth, that the English consider him, in a great 
measure, their friend and well wisher. 

Is it possible that governor Strong can be deluded away 
by the missionary and bible societies of Old England, so as 
to mistake the English for a religious people ? I am very 
Qotitident, that there is less religion, or appearance of it, in 
London, and in all their large cities, than in any other civ- 
ilized country, of the same numbers, in Europe. Their na- 
tional churches are empty, while their streets and their 
harbors are full of lewdness ; and they have more thieves, 
gamblers, forgers, cheats and bawds, than any other na- 
tion u[»on earth. Add to this, tlieir laws are bloody, be- 
y(»nd modern example, their military punishments horri- 
iilr. and their treatment of prisoners of war a disgrace to 
the name of christians. Can governor Strong be totally 
ignorant of the policy of some in patronizing bible and 
missionary societies ? And does he not see the inipraatiea- 



JOURNAL, l^/^ 

bilKj of the scheme contemplated by the latter? If we di- 
vide the knowu countries of the globe into thirty equal 
parts, ^t'e will be found to be Christians, six Mahometans^ 
and NINETEEN Fagans. It is difficult to believe that the 
first man, the governor and commander in chief of the 
great and respectable commonwealth of Massachusetts, 
can seriously expect that the missionary societies of Eng- 
land and of Boston can etlect this immense task ? Or that it 
ever was the design of Providence, that all the families of 
the earth should think alike on subjects of religion ? Let 
us take things as the sons of men have always found them, 
and not presume to oppugn Providence, who has decreed 
that there shall be, every where, men of different colours, 
countenances, voices, manner of speaking, of different feel- 
ings and views of things, and also of different languages, 
and of different opinions, as it regards the Deity, and his 
government of the world; and that among this great, and, 
doubtless, necessary diversity of the views of him, we may 
have the most pure and rational system of any. Let us 
then enjoy that system, encourage a virtuous education, 
and love one another, and leave to his direction and con- 
troul, the myriads of rational beings on earth, ftf which 
we, christians, make so small a part. No, no, my coun- 
trymen, if governor Strong will not attend exclusively to- 
the mere affairs of the state, with its relative duties, and 
leave the great world to the legislation of its ^reat Crea» 
(or, you had better allow him to retire to Northampton,^ 
there to study, in silence, how to govern his own heart, 
and how to work out his own salvation, instead of contin- 
uing the tool of a turbulent and vicious party. I still 
think Mr. Strong is a man of good intentions, and an hon- 
est patriot ; but that he has been deluded by artful men, 
who in their scheme of governing the whole nation, have 
found their account in placing at the head of their party ia 
IMassachusetts, a man of correct morals and manners, and 
of a reputed religious cast of mind. But Mr. Strong 
should reflect, and being a phlegmatic man, he is^ able to 
reflect calmly, and consider things deliberately. He should 
reflect, I say, on the impression his remarkable conduct 
must have on the minds of his countrymen, who have risk- 
ed their lives, and are now suffering a severe bondage in 
that great national cause of ''free trade and no impress- 
ment" which led the Americas people to declare war 
15* 









17S JOURNAL, 

a2:ainst Britain, by tl»e voice of their representativpg, in 
cono-rcss assembled. How slransje and how painful must 
it appear to us, and to our friends in Europe, that the i^ov- 
enior of a j^reat slate should lean more towards the Prince 
Heo-ent of Britain, than to the President of the United 
States, if, therefore, we eoitsidei' Mr. Strong as a sensi- 
ble and a correct man, and a true patriot, his conduct as 
overnor of Massachusetts, esi)eeia!ly Jis to the time of or- 
^anizina; a convention, of which the Engli&h promised 
tfiemselves countenance and aid, must have appeared more 
tlian strans^e to us in captivity. 

If we contemplate the character of the leading men of 
that party which put into office, and still supports Cover- 
nor Strong, and with whom he has co-operated, we can- 
not clear this i^entleojan of reproach. Previously to our 
hite contest with Britain, it was the unceasing endeavor 
of t!ie leaders of the federal party to brii>g into discredit 
:\\]i\ contempt the worthiest and best men of the nation ; 
?o ridicule and degrade every thing American, or that re- 
fl<'Cted honor on the American independence. So bitter 
Mas their animosity, so insatiate their thirst for powet- 
and high places, that they did not hesitate to advocate 
measures for the accomplishment of their grand object^ 
\>hich was io get into the places of lho§e now in power» 
How often hare we seen the party declaring in their venal 
prints ihiii the American administration v/as base,a?jdeow= 
ardly, and tamely suffering the outrages, ahuses and con- 
tempt of the nations of Europe, without possessing the 
spirit to resent, or tlie power to resist tkem ; and that ^''we 
could not be kicked into a war/* Yet after the adminislra- 
tif»n had exhausted every effort to bring England to do 
justice, and war was declared, these y&ry federalists call- 
ed tlie act w icked and inhuman, and denounced the Presi- 
licit for plnnii;ing the country into hostilities with the 
tni stress of the ocean, the aiost powerful nation of the 
earth. 'I'hey called this act &f Congress, " Madison^s 
jyar^'^- and did every thing in their power to roider that 
upright man (jdious in the eyes of the unthinking part of 
the conjmijnity. 'j'hjs was not all ; these arrogant men, 
nvsiinied to themselves all ihe talents aird all the virtues 
ol' tlie conntry. used every mean m their |>ower to paralyze 
thf arm of government, and reduce the energies of the na- 
liou, iu the face and front of our adversary. Bv arsrrs^ 



JOUBNAL, i^^ 

jiieiits and threats, they induced the moiiied men in Mas- 
sachiisetls, very generally to refuse loans of money to 
government, and to ruin our resources. Did not this par- 
ty, denoniiuated federalists, exult at the disasters of our 
arms ; and did they not vote in the Senate of Massaehu- 
setts, that it was unworthy a religious and moral people, 
to rejoice at the immortal achievements of our gallant sea- 
men ? In the midst of our difficulties, when this power- 
ful encnsy threatened us by sea and land, with a powerful 
force from Penobscot, another through Lake Champlain, 
another landed at the Chesapeake, while nothing but re- 
sistance and insurgency was talked of and hinted at vvith- 
in. In this state of things, and with these circumstances, 
did not Governor Strong, and the federal parly generally, 
seize hold of this alarming state of our attairs, to call the 
Convention at Hartford, and that not merely to perplex 
the government, but to be the organ of communication be- 
tween the enemy and the malcontents ? Did they not then 
talk loudly of our worm eaten Constitution, and did they 
not call the Union " a rope of sand, '^ that could no longer 
hold together .? If there be a line of transgression, beyond 
the bounds of forgiveness, the leaders of that party, who 
put Mr. Strong up for Governor, have attained it. These 
things I gather from the papers, and from the history of 
the day, as I have collected them since my return home. 
And to all this must be added the damning fact of Te De- 
nnis, orations, toasts, and processions of the clergy, judg- 
es, with all the leaders of the federal, or opposition party^ 
on the success of the Spaniards in restoring the Inquisition^ 
and recalling the reign of superstition and terror, against 
which we have been preaching and praying ever since the 
first settlement of our country. 

Our American newspapers, if they are not so correctly 
written as the London papers, are informing and amusingv 
They show the enterprize, the activity, and the daring 
thoughts of a free and an intrepid people ; while the Lon- 
don papers are filled with a catalogue of nobles and no- 
hlesses, who were assembled to bow, to flatter, to crijige, 
and to prink at the levee of the Great Prince Regent, the 
presumptive George the IVth, with now and then some ac- 
count of his wandering wife, the Princess of Wales. We 
are there also entertained with a daily account of the 
Iteahk and gestation ai Joanna Southcote, for whose repu- 



lg.0 JOURNAL. 

tafiori and welfare, thinking Johnny Bull is vastly am- 
ions, insomuch that were any continental nation to run 
obstinately counter to the popular opinion respecting her, 
we do deem it not impossible that the majority of the na- 
tion mi<>-ht be led to sign addresses to the Prince to go to 
w ar with them, in honor of Saint Joanna I Their papers 
likewise contain a particular account of the examination of 
ro2;ues by the Bow-street officers, highway robberies, and 
executions ; together with quack putis and miraculous 
cures. These, together with the most glorious and un- 
piirralleled bravery of their officers and seamen, and of 
their generals and soldiers, with the highest encomiums 
on the religion, the learning, the generosity, contentment 
and hapj)iness of the people of Britain and Ireland, make 
up the sum and substance of all the London papers, fVil' i 
Ham Cobbett's alone excepted ; and he speaks with a bri- 
dle in his mouth ! 

This month (FebrHary) Captain Shortland stopped the 
market for six days, in consequence of some unruly fellows , 
taking away certain wooden stanchions from Prison No. J 
6. But the old market women, conceiving that the Cap» | 
tain encroached upon their copy-hold, would not quietly 
submit to it. They told him that as the men were goin^ 
away soon, it was cruel to curtail their traffic. We al- 
ways believed that these market women, and the shop and 
stall keepers, and Jews, purchased in some way or other 
the unequal traffic between them and us. Be that as it 
may, Shortland could not resist the commercial interesty 
so that he. like good Mr. Jeflerson, listened to the clamor 
of the merchants, and raised the embargo. 

No sooner was quiet restored, and the eld women and 
Jews pacified, but a serious discontent arose among the 
prisoners, on discovering that these Jews, of all complex- 
ion><. had raised the price of their articles, on the idea, we 
supposed, tliat we should not much longer remain the sub- 
jects of tlieir impositions. Fhe rough allies, a sort of reg- 
ulators, who were too stout, and most commonly too inso- 
lent, to be governed by our regular and moderate commit- 
tees, turned out in a great rage, and lore down several of 
the small shops, or stalls, where slops were exposed for 
sale. These fellows at length organized themselves into 
a eompany of plunderers. J have seen men run from their 
sleeping births, ia which they speot Dearly their whole 



jeURNAL. 181 

time^ and plunder these little shop keepers, and carry the 
Jirticles they plundered, and secrete them in their beds. 
These mobs, or ganj^s of robbers, were a scandal to the 
American character, and strongly reprobated by every 
man ot* honor in the prisons. Some of these little mer- 
chants found themselves stripped of all they possessed in 
a few minutes, on the charge of exorbitant prices. We 
never rested, nor allowed these culprits to re^, until we 
saw the cat laid well on their backs. These plunderingg 
were in consequence of informers, and there was no name, 
not even that of a federalist, was so odious with all the 
prisoners, as that of an informer. We never failed to 
punish an informer. Nothing but the advanced age of a 
man, (who was sixty years old) prevented him from being 
wiiipped for informing Capt. Shortland of what the old 
man considered an injury, and for which he put the maa 
accused, into the black hole. An informer, a traitor, and 
an avowed federalist, were objects of detestation at Dart- 
moor. 

During the time that passed between the news of peace, 
and that of its ratification, an uneasy and mob like dispo- 
sition, more than once betrayed itself. Three impressed 
American seamen had been sent in here from a British 
ship of war, since the peace. They were on board the 
Pelican, in the action with the American ship Argus, 
when fell our brave captain Allen, One day, when all 
three were a little intoxicated, they boasted of the feats 
they performed, in fighting against their own countrymen 5 
and even boasted of the prize money they had siiared for 
caj>turing the Argus. This our prisoners could not endure ; 
and it soon reached the ears of the rough allies, who seized 
them, and kicked and cuffed them about unmercifully 5 
and they took one of them, who had talked more impru- 
dently than the rest, and led him to the lamp iron that pro- 
jecled from one of the prisons, and would in all probabili- 
ty, have hanged him thereon, had not Shortland rescued 
him by an armed force. They had fixed a paper on the 
fellow's breast, on which was written in large letters, Ji 
Traitor and a Federalist. 

It may seem strange to some, but I am confident that 
there is no class of people among us more strongly attach- 
ed to tlie American soil, than our seamen, who are float- 
ing about the Nyorld and seldom tread on the ground. The 



183 JOURNAL. 

sailor \^ ho roams about the world, marks (he difFerenee of 
treatment ami exults in the superior advantages of his 
countrymen. The American custom of ailowin^^ on board 
merchant ships the common sailors to trallic a little in ad- 
rentures, enlarges their views, makes them think and en- 
quire, and excites an interest in the sales of the whole car- 
go. The common sailor here feels a sort of unity of in- 
terest; and he is habituated to feel as a memljer of the 
^oating store-house which he is navigating. It is doubt- 
ful whether the British »aiIor feels any thing of this. 

I have had often to remark on the tyrannical conduct 
and unfeeling behaviour of Captain Shortland, but he had 
for it the excuse of an enemy; but the neglect of Mr. Beas- 
ley, with his supercilious behaviour tow^ards his country- 
men here confined, admits of no excuse. He was bound to 
assist us and befriend us, and to listen to our reasonable 
complaints. When negro John wrote to his Royal High- 
ness the Duke of Kent, son of king George the 3d, and 
brother of the Prince Regent, be received an answer in 
terms of kindness and reason; but Mr. Beasley, who was 
paid by our government for being our agent, and official 
friend, never condescended to answer our letters, and if j 
they ever were noticed, it was in the style of reproof — His J 
conduct is here condemned by six thousand of his country- 3 
men, and as many curses are daily uttered on him in this 
prison. It is almost treason in this our dismal Common- 
wealth or rather common misery, to speak in his favour. 
If Shortland and Beasley were both drowning, and one 
only could be taken out by the prisoners of Dartmoor, I 
believe in my soul, that that one would be Shortland; for 
as 1 said before, he has the excuse of an enemy. 

The prisoners have been long determined to testify their 
feelings towards Mr. Beasley, before they left Dartmoor, 
and the time for it has arrived. The most ingenious of 
our countrymen are now making a figure resemblance, or 
eftigy of this distinguished personage. One has contribu- 
ted a coat, another pantaloons, another a shirt bosom or 
frill, another a stuffed out cravat, and so they have made 
up a pretty genteel, haughty looking gentleman agent, 
with heart and brains full equal, they'think, to the person 
whom they wish to represent. They called this figure 

Mr. B . They tlien brought him to trial. He was 

indicted for many crimes towards them and towards the 



JOURNAL. 483 

character of the United States. The jury declared him 
guilty of each and every char^^e. and lie was sentenced by 
an unanimous decree of his judges, to be hanged by the 
neck until he was dead, and after that to be burnt. They 
proceeded with him to the place of execution, which was 
from the roof of prison No. 7, where a pole was rigged out, 
to which was attached an halter. After silence was pro- 
claimed, the halter was fastened round the neck of the ef- 
figy, and then a solemn pause ensued, which apparent so- 
lemnity was befitting the character of men who were con- 
vinced of the necessity of the punishment of the guilty, 
while they felt for the sufferings and shame of a fellow- 
mortal. After hanging the proper time, the hangman, 
who was a negro, cut him down ; and then the rough al- 
lies took possession of him, and conducted bim to a con- 
venient spot in the yard, where they burnt him to ashes. — 
This was not, like* the plunder of the shop-keepers, the 
condact of an infuriate mob ; but it was begun and carried 
through by some of the steadiest men within the walls of 
Dartmoor* prison. They said they had no other way of 
testifying their contempt of a man, who they supposed had 
injured tliero all, and disgraced their country. Such was 
the fact; as to the justness of their charges, I have noth- 
ing to say. I hope Mr. B. can vindicate his conduct to 
the world, and I hope this publication may lead to a thing 
so much wished for. 

During all this solemn farce, poor Shortland looked like 
a culprit under sentence of death. Some of the rofi;ues had 
written, with chalk, on the walls, Be you also ready! 
This commander's situation could not be an enviable one. 
He was, probably, as courageous a man as the ordinary 
run of British officers : but it was plainly discoverable that 
he was half his time in dread, and during the scene just 
described, in terror, which was perceivable amidst his af- 
fected smiles, and assumed gaiety. He told a g^entleman^ 
belonging to this depot, that he never saw, nor ever read, 
or heard of such a set of Devil-daring,, Gnd-prfwoking fel- 
lows, as these same yankees. And he added, I had rather 
have the charge of jive thousand Frenchmen, than five 
HUNDRED of these sons of liber cy ; and yet, said he, I love 
the dogs better than I do the damn* d frog-eaters. 

On the 30th of March we received the heart-cheerins: 
news of the total defeat of the British army before New- 



18* JOURNAL. 

Orleans, with the death of its commauder in chief, Sir 
Edward Packenham, and Generals Gihhs and Kean, with 
a u;reiit number of other officers, and about five thousand 
rank an»! Hie killed and wounded; and what appeared to 
be absolutely incredible, this unexampled slaughter of the 
enemy was achieved with the loss of less than twenty kill- 
ed and wounded on our side. Instead of shouting and re- 
joicing, as in ordinary victories, we seemed mute with as- 
tonishment. Yes ! when we saw the Englishmen walking 
with folded arms, looking down on the ground, we had not 
the heart to exult, especially as the war was now ended. 
I speak for myself — there was no event that tended so 
much to reconciliation and forgiveness as this immense 
slaughter of the English. We felt that this victory was 
too bloody not to stifle loud exultation. 

We had heard of Generals Dearborn, Brown, Scott, Rip- 
ley, Gaines and Miller, but no one knew who General Jin- 
drew Jackson was ; but we said that it was a New England 
name, and we had no doubt but he was a full blooded yan- 
kee, and that there were many of that name in New Hamp- 
shire, Massachusetts, Vermont, Rhode Island and Con- 
necticut. But I have since heard that he was a village 
lawyer in Tennessee, and a native of South Carolina. 

The more particulars we hear of this extraordinary 
victory, the more we are astonished. We cannot be too 
grateful to Heaven for allowing us, a people of yesterday, 
to wind up the war with the great and terrible nation, the 
mistress of the flcean, in a manner and stvle that will in- 
spire respect from the present and future race of men. 
Nothing now is thought of or talked of, but A^yw Orleans 
and Jackson^ and Jackson and A'*eiv Orleans. We already 
perceive that we are treated with more respect, and our 
country spoken of in honorable terms. The language 
now is — we are all one of the same people. You have all 
Ktiglish blood in your veins, and it is no wonder that you 
fight bravely ! Sometimes they have uttered the slang of 
*' The Times^^* and cast reflections on the government, and 
on President Madisou, but we have always resenled it, 
nor do we ever allow any one to speak disgracefully of 
our illustrious chief magistrate. 

Al)ont the middle of the present month, (March) we 
rof.'ived the news of the landing of Napoleon in France, 
while every one here supposed hira snug at Elba. The 



JOURNAL. 185 

.lews cRme to England, and passed through it like thun- 
der and lightning, carrying with it astunishmeut and dis- 
may. But as much as they dread, and of course hate Bo- 
naparte, the British cannot but admire his fortune and his 
glory. There are a number of Frenchmen yet here, and 
it is impossible for man to shew more joy at this news 
from France. They collected together, and shouted Vive 
VEmpereurl and tlie Yankees joined them, with huzza for 
Bonaparte, and this we kept up incessantly, to plague tlie 
British. The English bear any thing from us with more 
patience, than our expressions of affection for the Emperor 
Napoleon. Now the fact is, we care no more for the 
French, than they do for us : and there is but little love 
between us ; — yet we pretend great respect and affection 
for that nation, and their chief principally to torment 
overbearing surly John Bull, who thinks that we ought to 
love nobody but him, while he himself never does any thing 
to inspire that love. 

About the 20th of this month, we received the heart 
cheering tidings of the Ratification OF the Treaty 
OF Peace, by the President of the United States, 
This long expected event threw us all into such a raptur- 
ous roar of joy, that we made old Dartmoor shake under 
us, with our shouts ; and to testify our satisfaction we il- 
luminated this depot of misery. Even Shortland affected 
joy, and was seen more than once, like Milton's Devil, to 
" grin horribly a ghastly smile." r 

As there can be now no longer a doubt of our being soou 
set at liberty, our attention is directed to the ageiU for 
prisoners for fixing the time and arranging the mean^. 
JVJr. Beasley had written that as soon as the Treaty was 
ratified, he would make every exertion for our speedy de- 
parture. He must be aware of our extreme impatience to 
leave this dreary spot, whose brown anf5 grassless surface 
renders it a place more proper for convicts, than an assem* 
blage of patriots. 

We are all watching the countenance and conduct of our 
surly keeper, Shortland ; and it is the general opinion that 
he is deeply chagrined at the idea of no longer domineer- 
ing over us. It may be, also, that the peace may reduce 
him to half pay I, myself, am of opinion that he is dis- 
satisfied at the idea of our escaping his fangs, with whole 
16 



^36 JOURNAL. 

skins ? and his dark and sullen countenance gathers everj 
day a«!ditional blackness. 

Ihjril 47//. — The contractor's clerk beiii,^ desirous to 
"•ct off' his hands the hard biscuit, which had been held in 
Teserve in case of bad weather, attempted to serve it out 
to the prisoners at this time ; but the committee refused to 
receive it. ^othiug but hard bread was served out to 
them this day. In the evenins^, several hundred of the 
i»risoners entered the market square, and demanded their 
aoft bread ; but it was refused. The officers persuaded 
them to retire, but they would not, before they received 
their usual soft bread. The military officers, finding that 
it was in vain to appease them, as they had but about 
three hundred militia to guard five or six thousand, com- 
plied with their request, and all was quietness and content- 
ment. 

During this little commotion. Captain Shortland was 
gone from home. He returned next day, when he express- 
ed his dissatisfaction at the conduct of the military, who 
Jie said, should not have complied w ith the demand of the 
prisoners. As it was, however, past, and the prisoners j 
^vere tranquil, and no signs of disturbance remaining, he ''' 
grew j)acified. ^ j 

On the 4th of April, we received intelligence, which we 
supposed correct, that seven cartel ships were to sail from 
the Thames for Plymouth, to transport us home, and that 
several more were in preparation. This inspired us with 
Jiigh spirits and good humor ; and 1 distinctly remember 
that the prisoners appeared to enjoy their amusements, 
such as playing ball and the like, beyond what I had be- 
fore observed. We all, in fact, felt light hearted, from 
the expectation of soon leaving this dreary abode, to re- 
turn to our dear homes, and adored country. But how 
was the scene elianged before the liglit of another day ! 
Dead and wounded men, blood and horror, made up the 
scenery of this fatal evening ! 

The best account that could possibly be given, is that of 
a respectable committee, selected from among the best 
characters in this large assemblage of American jirisoners. 
The greater part of this committee, were men of no mean 
talents. They were not young men, but had arrived at 
that period of life, when judgment is the soundest, and 
when passion does not betray reason. The anxiety of all 



JOURNAL. 187 

to know tlie truth, and the solemn manner in which the 
evidence was collected and given, stamped the transaction 
with the characters of truth. I did not see the beginning 
of this aftVay. I was, with most of the other prisoners, 
eating my evening's meal in the building, when 1 heard 
llie alarm bell, and soon after a volley of musketry. There 
Mere, I believe, before the alarm bell rung, a few hundred 
prisoners, scattered here and there about the yards, as 
usual; but I had no idea of any particular collection of 
them, nor had 1 any suspicion of any commotion existing, 
or meditated. But I forbear ; and will here insert the re- 
port of the committee, in the correctness of which I place 
an entire confidence. 



DARTMOOR MASSACRE. 



tlaviiig seen in print several different statements of the massa- 
cre of the American prisoners of war at Dartmoor, and, on perusal, 
finding, that, though they corroborate each other, as to the leading facts, 
vet it seenjs the public are not in possession of all the particulars neces- 
sary to form a ])roper judgment of the same. 

While in prison, we having been members of the committee through 
wliom was transacted all tlieir public business, and through whose h'unls 
passed aM their correspondence with their agent in liOndon, and havinf; 
in our possession several documents relating to the before mentioned 
brutal butchery, we deem it a duty we owe to our murdered countryraea 
imd fellow-eili/,ens in genera! to liave them publisiied. 

Respecting the conduct of T. G. Shortland, (commander of the 
dej)0t of Dartmoot ) prior to the bloody and ever memorable sixth of 
April, it was a series of continued insult, injury and vexation to the pris- 
oners generally. Incapable of appreciating the beneficial effects ot the 
liberal policy of a gentleman, his sole study appeared to be devising means 
to render the situation of the prisoners as disagreeable as possible. To 
instaTice a few of his proceedings will sufficiently warrant the foregoing as- 
sertion. His conduct to the American officers was marked with pecu- 
liar baseness and indignity. In the construction of the depot at Dart- 
moor, there was a separate prison, built and enclosed for the more com- 
modious accommodation of those officers (prisoners of war) who were 
not considered by them f ntitled to a parole. Instead of Shortland allow- 
ing those officers to occupy that prison, they were turned into the other 
prisons promiscuously, with their men. His conduct to the prisoners 
generally was of the same stamp. There not being, at any time, a sut- 
iicient number to occupy all the prisons, he kept the two best, which 
were built by the Frenchmen during their confinement, and more con- 
veniently fitted for the accommodation of prisoners, shut and unoccupi- 
ed, wh le the upper stories of those prisons in which the Americans weie 
put, wej-e in such a state, that on every rain storm the floors were near- 
ly inundated. The pernicious effect this had on the health of the pris- 



Ib8 JOURNAL. 

oners mar be easily judg:»d of by the great mortality tliat prevaileU 
among them during the last wiiiler. season. 

Another instance of his mimierous (tisposition, was his ordering his 
j^iianls to fire into the prisois, when, at any time, a light was seen burn- 
in" during the rigtit, as specified in the general rej)ort. Wliile tlie 
Frenchmen were confined in that depot, it was a custom for the turnkey, 
■with a sentrv, to go into each prison, and see tlie tights extinguished at 
a stated hour ; although frequently hghtcd again there was no furtlier 
molestation. Instead of pursuing this plan witli the Americans, Short- 
land gave ordei'9 for the guards to fire info tlie i>risons whenever there 
thonld be a lii^hl burning. Frequently, on the most trivial occasions, he 
■wouid prevent the prisoners, for ten (lays at a tin e, from purch^smg, in 
the market, of the country people, such articles of c ■mfort and conven- 
ience as their scanty means would admit of. Flis last act of this kind, 
vas but a short time previous to the massacre, and his ailedged reason for 
it was, that the prisoners would not deliver up to him a man w ho had 
made his escape from the black hole, (a place of confinement for crim- 
inals) and had taken refuge among tlie prisoners in general. Tnis man 
was one of a prize crew, who was CMifined in that dark and loathsome 
cell, on a short allowance of provisi'jns, from June, 1814, until the ratifi- 
cation of ihe ti-eaty. On that man being demanded, the prisoners slated 
to Sliortland, that they did not presume that the British government 
■would expect them to stand sentry over eacli other — that he might send 
his turnkeys and soldiers in and look for the man, but they would not 
seek him and deliver him up — upon which he ordered the niililai'j' to 
fire upon the prisoners, but owing to the coolness and deliberation of the 
then commanding military officer, in restraining them, this order was 
liot obeyed. 

To sum up the whole in a few words, his conduct, throughout, was 
marked by the same illiberal prejudice, overbearing: insult, and savage 
barbarity, which characterises the majority of English ofticers when ihey 
liave Americans in their power. 

The enclosed papers, from Xo. 1 to 16 inclusive, are the depositions 
taken by the committee of investigation on the Tth. Colonel Ayre ar- 
rived from Plymouth and took couimand of this depot. Shortland sent 
in a message to the committee, requesting their attendance at his office, 
to which w.is returned for answer, that considering him a murderer, they 
vere delermmed to have no communication with him — but added, if the 
commanding officer from Plymoutlj had any thing ♦^o communicate, they 
■would wait on him ; and, at his request, they went up to the gute, where 
they stated to him all the particulars of the afi'air. 

He expressed great regret for what had occurred, and assured the pris- 
oners that no further violence should be used upon them. In the mean 
time Shortland made his ai)pearance. In-Aanliy the indignant cry of 
mui'derer, scoundi-el, villain, burst from the lips ot hundreds. The 
g.iilty wretch stood appalled, not daring to oiler a syllable in vindication 
of his conduct; but with a pallid visage and trembling step, returned to 
his puaril-house, from whence he was never seen to emerge while we re- 
mained there. In the course of the day, a rear admiral and post captain 
ai-rived from Plymouth, sept by Sir .). T. Duckworth, commander in 
chief on that station, to enquire into the transaction ; to whom we like- 
wise fully stated, by the committee, all the particulars, together with 
f^li'<rilan<rs previous infamous conduct. Their scandalous misrepresen- 
tation of the same to the admiralty board, as will be seen in their state-- 
mcnt No. 20, is truly churacleristic of the British official accounts. We 



JOURNAL, 18^ 

like'.vise wrote to Mr. Beasly on that day, giving him a short history of 
tiie alfair, but as he did not acknowledge the receipt of the letter, we 
coDcluderi it had been intercepted. On the l4th we received a letter 
iVora hiui dated ihe 12th. ot which No 18 is a copy — in answer to which 
Xo. ly is a copy. On the l6th we received another Irom him, of whicli 
No 20 is a copy ; in the interim he had seen a copy of oy^i' report, sent 
by a private conveyance, which seemed to have greatly altered his opin" 
in\ concerning the affair. In his letter of the l-ith was an extract from 
the statement or report sent him by the admiralty board. On receivhig 
whiuh we wrote; to admiral Duckworth, of which No. 21 is a copy. 

On the 22(1 of April, Mr. King, appointed by the American agents at 
Londvn, and a Mr. Larpent on the part of the government, with a mag- 
istrate of the county of Devon, arrived at the depot to investigate the af- 
fair; they were employed the greater part of three days in taking the 
depositioiis respecting the same; and though we would not hastily pre- 
judge Mr. King's report, we deem it necessary to state, that our antici- 
patioiis of it are net of the most favorable nature, from his not appearing 
to take that interest in the affair which the injuries his countryn^en had 
received demanded, as far the greater part of their time was employed 
in taking the depositions of Shortland's witnesses, most of whom were the 
principal actors, on that day, and of course were implicated with him ia 
his guilt On learning Mr. King was about leaving the depot, we address- 
ed a note to him, stating, that we had a number of witnesses waiting, 
M'huse depositions we conceived would be of importance, and requested 
him to have them taken ; we received to this note no answer, and he im- 
mediately left the depot. The particular points on which those depo- 
sitions would have born, related to picking the hole in the wall and break- 
ing the locks of the gate leading into the market square — they would have 
exonerated the prisoners generally from having any share in those acts, 
or even a knowledge of their having been committed. As these were 
the two principal points on which Shortland rested his plea of justifica- 
tion, we deemed it highly necessary that they should have been placed in 
a proper point of view. As for an idea of the prisoners attempting to 
b eakout a moment's reflection would convince any impartial man of its 
ini probability'. Every prisoner that had a sufficiency of money to defray 
his expenses, could obtain his release and a passport, b) applying to Mr, 
Beasley, or througii their correspondenee m England ; those who bad 
not funds would not have left the depot had the gates been thrown open, 
having no meai'S of subsistsnce in a foreign country, and there being a 
very hot press of seamen at that time, they knew their risk of being kid- 
napped was great, and when, by staying a tew days longer, they were as- 
sured the^ would be embarked for their native country. I'he infamous 
falsehoods circulated in the English prints, of the prisoners hasing arm- 
ed themselves with knives^ clubs, stones, kc seized a part of the guard 
and disarmed them, and other sinwlar reports, are unwonhy of notice; 
for when the disturbance occurred on the fourth of April, concerning' 
bread, the ])risoners having burst open the inner gatts, had they the least 
di.'^^positKHijthey might ha^e iuinii;l;,t< d the whole gairibonj as they were 
completely surpi iscd and panic struck. 

Tae artiu! policy cf the Bi itish iffieers in coupling the transactions of 
the 6 h oi \piii with that of buiiiing Mv. Beasley's effigy, may easily be 
seen through ; he latter was done a fortnight |)revious, by a few individ- 
uals, witnout it; ben.g generall) knov. n, or the least disturbance cuncern- 
jng it ; and wede ni it but justice t-. otalt^ that whatever negligence Mr, 
Bca>>iev may i.ave been guuty of, rtspectir.g the affairs ot the prisoners, 
he •'hould ;\- totally exonerated fi'oin alt btuine respecting tl.e mass;.cre. 

There was an insta .ce that occurred uii the evening of the 6ih, whicU 
15* 



lyO V JOUKNAL. 

reflects so miieh credit on the Americans, it should not be passed over la 
silence. When the brutal soldiery were following the prisoiitrs in the 
vards, stabbiiip: and firing aniong them, a lamp lighter, who had come \n 
* few moments previous, ran into No. 3 prison, to escape being nuuder- 
ed bv his own countrymen^ on being lecognized, a rope was fixed for 
lianging him imme<Uately. In this njonient of irrilation, when their 
siaughlered and bleeding counti'vmen lay groaning around them in the 
agonies of dissolution, such an act of vengeance, at that time Mould not 
have been singular — but on its being represented to them, by some influ- 
ential characters, that such a deed would stain the American name, to 
their honor be it recorded, that Immanity triumphed over vengeance, the 
trembling wretch was released, and told to go — ** We disdain to copy af- 
ter your countrymen, and murder you at this advantage, we will seek a 
jiiore noble revenge " 

We deem it necessary here to remark, as some editors have manifest- 
ed a disposition to vindicate Shorlland's conduct, that, allow ing every cir- 
cumstance to be placed in the most unfavorable point of view for the pris- 
ont-rs, suppose, for a moment, it was the ir intention to break out, and a 
number had collected in the market square for that pui-pose, when, being 
charged upon by the military, they retreated out of the square into their 
respective prison-yards, and shut the gates after them vvithoul making 
any resistance whatever; under such circumstances no fuj-ther f)pposi- 
tion could have been expected, and, consequently, their intention must 
have been completely defeatetJ. What justification can there then be 
made to appear f«)r the subsequent bratal, unprecedented 6uteheiy and 
mutilation? None! The most shameless and barefaced advocates anti 
aiiolog^izers for Biitish injaslice cannot produce anr. 

WALTER COL TON, -J Members of 
TUOS B. MO'iT, J- the 

WM. liOBAUr, J Committee. 

DEPOSITION No. I. 

I, Addison Holmes, being solemnly sworn on the holy evangelists of 
AliTiiglity (?OD, depose and say — 

That on the Gtn of April,, about 6 o'clock in the evening. I was in the 
Jiiai'kct square, where the soldiers wtre drawn up. Tnere was a num- 
ber of Americans in the square — to tlie best «'f my judgment, between 
fcfty and a l»undred. I distinctly heard Captain Shorlland order the sol- 
tiiers to charge on the prisoners., which they did not do till the order was 
repealed by their own officers, when they charged, and tiie prisoners re- 
tft-ated through the gales, which they shut to alter tliem. In tliis inter- 
im 1 had got behind a sentry bo.\, in the squaie, and the soldiers went 
past me. I saw Cai)tflin Shortland open the gates, and distiicily heard 
him give the word to fire, which was not immediately obeyed, the com- 
viandin}; officer of the soldiers observing, that he would not order the 
n»en to fire, but that he (Shortland) might do as he pleased. 1 then saw 
Cajit. SliOft'and seize hold of a musket, in ihe hands of a soldier, which 
was imr?ie('iately fired — but 1 am not able to say whether he or the sol- 
dier Dulled the Iriji-ger. Al this time I was endeavorin:g to get througti 
the gtite to the prison yard —in so doijig several stabs were made v.t me 
•with bayonelf;, which 1 evtuled. Inuviediately after the firing became 
j;eneral, and I retietited, with ihe remainder of the prisoners, down 'Jie 
>!<rd, the soldiers fijllov.ing and firing on the prisoners; alter 1 had got 
iiiH No. 3 prison, 1 heajd tw o voUkr fired into the pris<^n, that killed one 
iu^.>. iUAl viouuued yiioth-er— and iuithcr the depoieni saiih not. 

I ADDISON HJL:Uli:S? 



JOURNAL. 191 

We, the undersigned, being duly appointed and sworn as a committee 
to take the depositions of those pei'sons who were eye witnesses of the 
late horrid massacre, certify that the above deponents, being duly and 
solemnly sworn on the holy evangelists of Almighty God, did depose and 
say as before written, which was severally read to each one wlio subscrib- 
ed the same. 

IViUiam B. Orne, Wm. llobart, 

Francis Joseph^ James Jldams, 

Walter CoLton, Jatnes Hoggs. 

I^A certificate similar lo the foregoing, is attached to each of the depo- 
siUous. Tiie originals are now in oui- Lauds.J 

No. IT. 

We, the undersigned, being each severally sworn on the holy evangel- 
ists of Almighty God, depose and say — 

That on ll»e 6th April, about six o'clock in the l*\-ening, as we were 
•Walking in the yard of No. I and No. S prisons, just before the usual 
time of turning in, we heard the alarm bell ring At this time most of 
the prisoners were in the prisons ; a nunibtr with us ran up the market 
stjuare, out of curiosity, to see what was the matter ; there were about 
one hundred collected in the square, and a number were standing by the 
gates inside the prison yard ; the soldiers were drawn up in the upper 
part of the square; orders were given them to charge, on which the 
prisoners retreated out of the square, and some of the last which came 
through the gales, shut tliem to ; the soldiers then commenced firing on 
tl em through the iron pailings, and fired several vollies in succession. 
Thfc prisoners were, at this time endeavoring to get into their respec- 
tive prisons, when the soldiers perceived that tiiey were all dispersed 
from the gates, they followed them into the yard, and continued firino" 
on them ; and after all the prisoners had got into the prisons, a party of 
soldiers pursuing them, came up to the door of No. 3 prison, and fired 
two vollies into the piison, which killed one mau and mortally wouudeti 
another. 

We further solemnly declare, that there was no pre-concerted nlan or 
intention amojig the prisoners to make an attempt to break out, or to re- 
sist, in any manner, the authority of tiie government of the depot. 
John T. Foster^ Charles Perry, Geo. Stinchecomb^ 

FJisha ll'hittdiif James Grennlaw, William Perry, 

Isaac L Burr, Wm. B. Orne, liichard Do-wiuno-. 

Done at Dartmoor Prison, this 7th day of April, 1S15. ^ 

No III. 

I, Andrew Davis, Jun. being solemnly sworn upon the holy evan"-el- 
isls of Almighty (Jod, depose and say — * 

That on the 6th (if April, about six o'clock in the evening, while walk- 
ing ii.. ilie yard of No. 3 prison, 1 heard the alarm bell ring, and i went 
up towards the gate : I sww several men bearing a wounded man towards 
the gate, whom it appeared had been wounded by the s«l(iiers" bayonets; 
when the prisoners were retreating out of the sq.are, 1 heard Caj-tain 
Shortland order a part of theuj to let go the wounded man, which some 
<>t tliens did ; one of ti.e reniaining renionstrated to Capt Shortland, say- 
ing that the man was so badly w()unded that it required several to sup- 
port him ; on which Cai)t. Shortland struck him several blows with his 
fists, and he appcarid to me, tVom the whole of his conduct, to be much 
iuioxicaked wiili liquor — and furlJcier the deponent saith not 

ANDitEW DAVIS, Jus. 



19:2 JOURNAL, 

No. IV. 
■\Ve, the underslp^ned, depose and say — 

That on the 6Lh of April, in the evening, we were in the yard of >io, 
1 and No. S prisons, when we heard the firing at the gates, and saw the 
prisoners all endeavoring to get into their respective prisons In going 
down towards the lower doors of the prisons, we saw a party of soldiers, 
who were posted on the walls, commence firirig on the prisoners, and 
we saw a man fall, who iramedialaly died, and several others were hadly 
■wounded before they were ahle to get into the prisons. 

Jimos Cheeney, Harris Keeneyy 

Washington Fox, Jmnes Coffen^ 

John Smithy Thomas if'illiamSf 

Henry Casey. 

No. V. 
Homer Hull, after being duly sworn on the holy evangelists of Almigh- 
ty GJod, deposelh and saith — 

On the 6ih of April, about six o'clock in the evening, I was walking in 
the yard of No. 7 prison ; all being as tranquil among the prisoners as 
usual, I observed an unusual number of soldiers mounting the wails ; 
and one of them called to one of the prisoners and told him he (the pris- 
oner) had better go into the prison, as the prisoners tvould soon hs 
charged upon. While he was asking the cause of such a proceeding, I 
heard the alarm bell ringing; I immediately run to the gates leading to 
the square, when I saw Capt. Shortland at the head of the armed soldiery 
marching down to the gratings, the prisoners at the same time running 
to see what was the matter ; on the soldiers coming to the gratings, Capt. 
Shortland ordered them to charge, which they did ; the prisoners im- 
mediately run to their respective prisons ; on passing through the inner 
gate they closed it after them. Then 1 heard Captain Shortland order 
the sohiiers to fire, which they commenced to do in evei-y direction of 
the yard, when the prisoners were making every effort to reach their 
prisons. I did not see any violence used on tlie part of the prisoners, nor 
do 1 believe any violence was intended or premediated. 

HOMER HULL. 
I, Joseph C, Alorgan, having been duly sworn, and having read the 
foregoing deposition, do declare the statement therein mentioned to be 
true. J. C. MORGAN. 

No. VL 
We, the undersigned, depose and say- 
That on the iixth of April, about six o'clock in the evening, we were 
in the market square — we distinctly heard Capt. Shortland give orders to 
the soldiers to charge on the prisoners — and after we retreated through 
the gates, we heard him give orders to ihe soldiers to fire, which, oa 
his repeating several times was executed. 

Joseph Reeves, Isaac X. Burr, 

James Greenlaiv, Thomas Tindal. 

No. VII. 

We, the undersigned, depo=e and say — 

That, un the 6tli of April, in the evening, after all the prisoners in No. 
1 au«l 3 )ards had got into their. respecti\e piisdiis, a party of soldiers 
came up to -he dot r of No. 3 piison-— we were sfniding near the door at 
the time, and saw them fire i wo voli.jes into the prison, which kill- 
ed one loan and wounded another. 

H ilium Scaiick, John Latham, 

James Greenluv>, John Glass. 



JOURNAL. 1U3 

No. VIII. 

Unoch Burnham. having been duly sworn, deposeth— 

Thai he was sumdiiig at the market-gate at tlie time Cafjt. Shortland 
came ifito the niaikel sijuare with a U»rge p.Hfty of soldiers (it being ilien 
about six o'clock.) They immediately farmed a line in the square — at 
tiiat lime a number of prisoners got into tlie square from the yard of No. 
1 prison, an I ba<l advanced a few steps ; the soldiers then churged, and 
the prisoners iniinediately retreated to their prisons, without the IcHSt 
resistance. After the prisoners had retired to the yards of the prison, 
the soldiery foriOvjd a line and commenced firing in the yards, the pris- 
on gates being close<l l^y the p.-isiners ; shortly after tltcy kept up a hea- 
vy fire, and I saw one man fall. I immediately hastened to No. 5 prison, 
but on reaching No. 7, 1 found there was a party of soldiers on tlie wa'.l, 
firing from every direction. I then got safe in No. 7, .vhere, after re- 
maining at the noi th end window a ^i^w moments, I satv a man r a pHs- 
QiierJ leaning- against the ivall, apparently ivounded, iv.th his hands in 
a suf)plicuting posture — at the Stirat time, J saw several soldiers present 
and Jire at the prisoner and he immediaieli/ Jell dead on the spot. 

ENOCH BURNHAM. 
No. IX. 

Edioard C'tffin, being duly sworn, deposed, that on the sixth of April, 
about six o'clock in the afternoon, a few prisoners belonging to No. 5 and 
7 prisOMS, broke a hole tlirOMgi* the waU opposite No. 7 prison, as iber 
Said to get a ball out of the barrack yard, which they had lost in their 
I)lay. After they had hroke throngii the wall, the officers and hoidiers 
that wei'e in t'se barrck yard, told them to desist or tiiey would fire upou 
them. Immediately after that the drum beat to arms, and the square 
was filled with soldiers, and without telling the prisoners to go to their 
prison, immediately commenced to charge and fire upon them. I im- 
mediately stalled to go to No. 5 prison, and the soldiers on tlie platforms 
on the walls commenced firing, and 1 should think near forty fired at 
myself a'ld three others, as 1 am sure there were no other men in sight 
ai that tine between No's 5 and 6 prisons. In going round No. 5 cook- 
house a prisoner was si ot and killed, \ery near me. 

Attest, HE:.Ky Allen. EDWARD COFFIN. 

No X. 

Thomas B. Jilott, having been duly sworn, deposed-— 
About s'x o'clock in the evening of tht 6th of April, 1 was called on by 
a number of persons, req'iesting me as one of the committee to put a stop 
to some hoys whom they said were picking a Immc through an inner wall, 
for which, tliey said, our provisions wi-uid be stopped to pay for 1 ask- 
ed what was their intentions in making the hole • they said it was for tlie 
pur ose of obtainiiig a bah which they had lost io their play. I then re- 
paired with a number of respcciable men to make them desist . but be- 
fore we got into the yatd a quick firi'g^ commenced. On ray walking 
u|) the yard v/as met by a number of prisoners retreating to their prisons, 
much alariued ; one of which I observed was badii wounded, he was 
bleeding freely from his wound; 1 could see the yard was ulear of pris- 
oners, or not more than two or three to be seen, and they retiring fast. 
1 requested the wounded man to lean upon me, aiid 1 would assist him 
in some medical aid. v\'^e had not advanced but a few steps when wo 
■were fired on i advanced, assurii.g the soldiery we had no hostile in- 
tentions. I then took the fainting man in my artns, when a voliey of mus- 
ketry was discharged full at us. I then retired immed ately ; there was 
hut one of my prison doors unlocked, which was on the back of the pris- 
on. Oil tuviiiug the corner uf the cook-Uouse, I found myself uuexg^eel- 



191- JOURNAL. 

edly open to the fire of soldiers on the ramparts of the south wall ; tLeu 
fire was kept up in so brisk a manner that it appeared almost impossible 
to enter without being shot ; but finding my situation very dangerous, I 
was determined to enter tne prison or die in the attempt. For tliat pur- 
pose myself, with a number of others ihat had been standing behind the 
wing of the cook house, sallied out for the purpose of gaining our prison 
dour, when a volley of niusket balls showered in aracngst us, killing two 
and wounding others. On our entering the prison cur doors were shut 
to keep them from firing in. Some little time after the turnkey iiiqulr- 
ed for me; I went forward to the Avindt^w ; he requested nie to deliver 
up the dead and wounded ; I requested him to open the door, which he 
did, for that purpose. On passing out the dead and wounded, 1 was in- 
sulted by the soldiery, and on my replying was charged upon, and wiih 
difficulty escaped without being butchered; tliey likewise insulted the 
wounded as I gave them up, and threw the dead down in the mud, and 
spurned at them iu a very unfeeling manner. THO'S 13. MO TT, 

No Xf. 

I, William JMitcheUf being duly sworn upon the holy evangelists of 
Almighty God, depose and say — 

1 hat, on the evening of the 6th of April, when the alarm commenced, 
I was in the lower part of No, I ya'd. I walked up towards the gate to 
learn the cause, when 1 had got about halfway, 1 heard asingle musket 
fired, and immediately after a whole volley. 1 then saw several men 
carrying one that was wf unded, the soldiers keej)ing up the wliole time 
a steady fire, and the prisoners all endeavoring to get into the prisons; 
the lower doors being closed in the interim ; it was with much diificulty 
they could g< t in, the soldiers pursuing them the whole time and charg- 
ing them with bajonets; and after getting into the prison, I heard tne 
firing of musketry in all directious round the prison — and further the de- 
ponent saith not. WILLIAM MITCHELL. 

No XIL 

I, John G. Gatchell, having been duly sworn, depose and say — 
That I was walking in the yard towards the gate. The first I knew, 
was the soldiers coming into the yard, with Captain Shortland at their* 
hei.d, when an immediate fire began from the soldiers, and one man fell 
within six feet of me. While in the act of rendering this man assistance, 
I heard Ca])tain Shortland order the soldiers to kill the damn'd rascal — 
meaning me ; immediately the soldiers came and pricked me with their 
bayonets, and I was forct-d to run to the prison at the hazard of my life, 
and leave the man that was wounded, JOHN G. GATCHELL. 

No. XIII. 

James Tayhr, having been duly sworn, deposeth, that he was standing 
at the gate in the market square, at the time (;aptain Shortland, wiih a 
file of soldiers, entered the square. Captain Shortland ordered a pris- 
oner in the square to go into the prison, when he immediately complied. 
He then ordered the soldiers to charge; and instantly observed to the 
commanding officer of the military — " It is no use to charge on the 
damn'd Yankee rascals — FIRE" — when this comntenced immediately. 
The prisoners at that time wee-e rushing in the i>risons as fast as possible 
and principa ly out of the square. After i he prisoners were mostly in the 
prison of No. 4, a boy, of ten years of age, was shot through the body 
and kdied, wliile in the door passage trying to get in, Ly the soldiers in 
the yaril, in my presence, I being inside the prison; likewise one other 
man was shot through the thigh. JAMES TAYLOR. 



JOURNAL. 195 

No. XIV. ^ 

Sumuel Lowdy having been duly sworn, deposeth as follows : 

That he was in the yard of prison No. 4, at the time Robert Haywood 
was shot by the soldiery. He immediately took him up, for the purpose 
of carrying him to the hospital. In the square he met Capt. Shortland, 
and said, Capt. Shortland, this man is very badly wounded — I want to 
carry him to the hospital. Capt, Shortland replied, you damn'd son of a 
bitch, carry him back to the pr-son ; and he was obliged to comply Af- 
ter getting- to the prison, one of the soldiers called him back, and he went 
up to the square with the man, and met Capt. Shortland, who said, heave 
him down there, (pointing to a sentry box] and away with you to the pris- 
on , at that time they were firing in the different yards. On leaving the 
square, we found the man was dead. SAMUEL LOWDY. 

John Battice having been sworn, corroborates the evidence of Samuel 
Lowdy. JOHN BATTICE. 

No. XV. 

William Potter, having been duly sworn, deposed — 

That while pafTmg between No. 5 and 6 prifons, the fold iers commenced 
firing from the walls in three divifions, at a few of us ; at that time there 
were only four prifoners in fight. After advancing a few ftcps, I found 
a man badly wounded. I (lopped and picked the man up ; during which 
time the foldiers kept an inceffant fire at us, as likewifetill we got to the 
prifon of No. 5. WILLIAM POITER. 

No XVI. 

1, David S. Warren, being duly fwo-n on the holy evangel ills of Al- 
mighty God, depofe and fay — 

That, on the evening of the 6th of April, when the alarm commenced, I 
v/as in the lower part of the yard No. 1 prifon. I walked up to the gate 
to learn thecaufe. I there faw there were a number of prifoners in the 
market fquare, and a great number of foldiers drawn up acrofs the fame; 
foon after they charged on the prifoners, who retreated out of the fquare 
into their i efpective prifon yards, and Tnut the gates after them. I faw 
the foldiers advance up to the gates, and heard Capt. Shortland order them 
to fire, which they not immediately obeying, I faw him feize hold of a 
mufket in the hands of a foldier, and direft it towards a prifoner, and 
heard him again repeat, '■' Jire — Gad damn you fire I" Imrr)ediately after- 
wards the firing becam# general ; theprifoneis were all endenvoring to get 
into the prifons, which was attended with mucn difficulty, all the doors 
but one being clofed — and further the deponent faith not. 

DAVID S. WARREN. 
No. XVII. 

We, the underfigned, being each feverally fworn on the holy evangelifts 
of Almighty G^d, for the inveftigation of the circumftances attending the 
late horrid maffacre, and havmg heard the depofitions of a great number 
of witneffes, from our own perfonal knowledge, and from the depofitions 
given in as aforefaid, 

REFORT J3S FOLLOWS : 

That on the 6th of April, about fix o'clock in the evening, when the 
prifoners were all quiet in their refpcftive yards, it being about the ufual 
time of turni'ig in for night, and the greater part of the prifoners being 
then in the prifons, the alarm bell was rung, and many of the prifoners 
ran up to the market fquare to learn the occafion of the alarm. There were 
then drawn up in the fquare feveral hundred foldiers, with Capt. Short- 
iand (the agent) at their head -, it was iikewife obfsrved at the fame time, 



196 JOURNAL. 

that additional numbers of foldiers were pofting thctnfelves on the walls 
Tound the prifon yards. One of them obferved to the prifoners, that they 
had better go into the prifons, for they would be charged upon directly. 
This, of courfe, occafioned confiderable alarm among them. In this mo- 
ment of uncertainty, they were running in different dirt-ftions, enquiring 
the caufc of the alarm ; fome toward their refpeftive prifons, and fome to- 
ward the market fquare. When about one hundred were colleftcd in the 
fquare, Cipt. Shortland ordered the foldiers to charge upon them, which 
order the foldiers were reliiftant in obeying, as the prifoners were ufmg 
no violence ; but on the order being repeated, they made a charge, and the 
prifoners retreated out of the fquare into their prifon yards, and fhut the 
gate after them Capt Shortland, himfelf, opened the gates, and ordered 
the foldiers to fire in among the prifoners, who were all retreating in dif- 
ferent direftions towards their refpeftive prifons. It appears there was 
fome hefitalion in the minds of the officers, whether or not it was proper 
to fire upon the prifoners in that fituation ; on which Shortland feiz.ed a 
mufket out of the hands of a foldier, which he fired. Immediately after 
the fire became general, and many of the prifoners were either killed or 
wounded. The remainder were endeavoring to get into the prifons, when 
going towards the lower doors, the foldiers on the walls commenced firing 
on them from that quarter, which killed fome and wounded others. Af- 
ter much difficulty, (ail the doors being clofed in the entrance, but one in 
each prifon) the furvivors fucceeded in gaining the prifons ; immediately 
after which, parties of foldiers came to the doors of Nos. 8 and 4 prifons, 
and fired feveral voUies into them through the windows and doors, which 
killed one man in each prifon, and feverely wounded others. 

Ii likewife appears, that the preceding butchery was followed up with 
a difpofition of peculiar inveteracy and barbarity. 

One man who was leverely wounded in No. 7 prifon yard, and being 
unable to make his way to the prifon, was come up with by the foldiers, 
whom he implored for mercy, but in vain ; five of the hardened wretches 
immediately levelled their pieces at him. and (hot him dead on the fpot. 
The foldiers who were on the walls, manifefted equal cruelty, by keeping 
up 1 conflant fire on every prifoner they could fee in the yards endeavoring 
to get into the prifons, when their numbers were very few, and when not 
the leaft fhadow of refinance could be made or expedfed. Several of them 
had got into No 6 prifon cook houfe, which wss pointed out by the fol- 
diers on the wails, to thofe who were marching in from the fquare They 
immediately went up and fired into the fame, which wounded feveral. — 
One of the prifoners ran out, with the intention of gaining his prifon, but 
was killed before he reached the door. 

On an impartial confideration, of all circnmftances of the cafe, we are 
induced to believe that it was a premeditated fcheme in, the mind of Capt. 
Shortland, for reafons which we will now proceed to f^ive. As an illuci-. 
dotion of its origin, we will recur back to an event which happened fome 
days previous Captain Shortland was at the time, abfent at Plymouth; 
but before going, he ordered the contraftor, or his clerk, to ferve out one 
pound of indifferent, hard br«ad, inftead of one lound and an half of foft 
bread, their ufual allowance. This the prifoners refufr-d to receive. They 
waited all day in expeftation of their ufiial allowance being ferved out ; 
but at funset, finding this would not be the cafe, burft open the lower 
gates, and went up to the ftore, demanding to have their bread 

The ofFcers of tlic garrifon, on being alarmed, and infoimed of thefc 
proceedings, obfervcd that it was no more than right the prifoners (hould 



JOURNAL. 197 

have their ufual allowance, and ftrongly reprobated captain Shortland, in 
withholding it from them. They were accordingly ferved with their 
I bread, and quietly returned to their prifon. This circumftance, >^iththe 
cenfures that were thrown on hisconduft, reached tlie ears of Shortland, 
on his return home, and he mud then have determined on the diabolical 
plan of feizing the firft flight pretext to turn in the military, to butcher 
the prifoners for the gratification of his malice and revenge. It unfortu- 
nately happened, that in the afternoon of the fixth of April, fome boys 
who were playing ball in No. 7 yard, knocked their ball over into the 
barrack yard, and on the fentry in that yard refusing to throw it back to 
them, they picked a hole in the wall, toget in after it. 

This afforded Shortland his wilhed for pretext, and he took his meaf- 
ures accordingly. He had all the garrifon drawn up in the military walk, 
additional numbers ported on the walls, and every thing prepared, be/are 
the alarm-bell was rung ; l\\hht miMX^Wy concluded would draw the at- 
tention of a great number of prrfoners towards the gates, to learn the caufe 
of the alarm, while the turnkeys were difpatched into the yards to lock 
all the doors but one, of each prifon, to prevent the prifoners retreating out 
of the way, before he had fufficiently wreaked his vengeance. 

What adds peculiar weight to the belief of its being a premeditated, de^ 
termined maffacre, are, 

Firjl — The fanguinary difpofition manifefted on every occafion by 
Shortland, he having prior to this time, ordered the fold iers to fire into 
the prifons, through the prifon windows, upon unarmed prifoners afleep 
in their hammocks, on account of a light being feen in the prifons; which 
barbarous act was repeated feveral nights fucceffively. That murder v/as 
not then committed, was owing to an overruling Providence alone ; for 
the balls were picked up in the prifons, where they paffed through the 
hammocks of men then afleep in them. He having alfo ordered the fol- 
diers to fire upon the prifoners in the yard of No. 7 prifon, becaufe they 
would not deliver up to him a man who had efcaped from his cachet, whick 

I~ order the commanding officer of the foldiers refufed to obey ; and general- 
ly, he having feized on every flight pretext to injure the prifoners, by 
flopping their marketing fof ten days repeatedly, and once, a third part of 
their provifions for the fame length of time. 

Secondly — He having been heard to fay, when the boys had picked the hole 
in the wall, and fometime before the alarm bell was rung, while all the 
prifoners were quiet as ufual in their refpeftive yards — " I'll fix the damn'd 
rajcali directly.'' 

Thirdly — His having all the foldiers on their pofts, and the garrifon fully 
prepared before the alarm bell rung. It could not then, of courfe, be 
rung to aflemble the foldiers, but to alarm the prifoners, and create confu- 
lion among them. 

Fourthly — The foldiers upon the wall, previous to the alarm bell being 
rung, informing the prifoners that they would be charged upon direftly. 

Fifthly — The turnkeys going into the yard and clofing all the doors but 
one, in each prifon, while the attention of the prifoners was attracted by 
thtf alarm beU. This was done about fifteen minutrs fooner than ufual, 
and without informing the prifoners it was time to fiiut up. It was ever 
the invariable praftice of the turnkeys, from which they never deviated be- 
fore that night, when coming into the yard to fliut up, to halloo to the 
prifoners, fo loud as to be heard throughout the yard, " turn in, turn in .'" 
while on that night it was done fo fecretly, that not one man in a hundred 
knew, they were fhut; and in particular, their (hutting the door of No, 
17 



\9fi JOURNAL. 

7, prifonfrs ufually go in and out at, and which was formerly always 
clolVd laft, and leaving one open in iheolh.tr end of the prifon. wliich was 
fxpnfedtoa crofs fire from the /'oldiers oiilhe walls, and which the prifon- 
ers had to oafs in gaining the prifons. 

It appears to us that the foregoing reafons fufficiently warrant the con- 
clufion we have drawn therefrom. 

We likewife believe, from the depofitions of men who were eye wit- 
neffes of a part of Shortland's conduff , on the evening of the 6lh of April, 
that he was in oxicated with liquor st the time ; from his brutality in beat- 
ing a prifoner then fupporting another fevercly wounded, from the black- 
guard and abufive language he m.-ide ufe of, and from his frequently having 
been feen in the f^me ftate. His being drurk was. of courfe, the means of 
inflaming his bitter enmity againft the prifoners. and no doubt was the 
caufeof the indifcriminate butchery, and of no quarter being given. 

We here folemnly aver, that there was no pre-concerted plan to attempt 
a bre; Wing out. There cannot be produced the lead fhadow of a reafon or 
inducement for that intention, becaufe the prifoners were daily expefting 
to be releafed, and to embark on board cartels for their native country. 
And we likewife folemnlvaffert, that there was no intention of refifting, in 
in any manner, the authority of this depot. 

N. B. Seven were killed, thirty dangeroufly wonnded, and thirty (light- 
ly do. Total, fixty-ftven killed and wounded. 

fWui, B. Orne, Win. Hobart, "^ 

(S I James Bos:gs; James A (lams ^ | 

^.^ J. F. Trowbridge, Francis Joseph, ^CcTJWiittee. 

2 ! J oh 71 Rtfst, Henri) Allen, \ 

^ {.Walter CoHon, Thcmas B. Mott, J 

No. XVIII. 

Letter from Mr. BeaJIy. agevt for American prifoner i of war at London^ to the 

Committee of American prifoners of war in Dartmoor prifon. 

Agency for American prifoners of war, > 

London, April 12. 1815. ^ " 

Gentlemen — It having been ftated in fonieof the newfpapers publifh- 
ed here, that the American government ini.ended to fend fome fhips of war 
iiound to the Mediterranean, to this country, for the purpofe of complet- 
ing their crews from among the prifoners; and having been informed that 
this idea has got among the prifoners, it becomes my duty to rcqueft, that 
you will inform them that the faft is not fo 

I have already informed vou of the meafures which had been taken to 
provide conveyances for the prifoners You will let them know, that 
eight large tranfports have been engaged, fome of which muft be now at 
Plymouth ; others will follow, until the whole of the prifoners are fent off. 

it is much to be lamented, that at a moment when every exertion was 
making to reftore rhem to their country. the\fhould have J alien into an excefi 
which has proted fatal to fome And I am at a lofs to conceive how they 
could, under fuch circumftanccs, pietend to fay, that the caufe of this un- 
fortunate but Hiameful condnft, was the negleft of their government or its 
agent. This, I am informed, they have ftated to the ofFcers who were 
fent to examine into the affair. I am, gentlemen, your obedient fervant, 

R. G BKASLEY. 

The Committee of the American prifoners^ Dartmoor. 



JOURNAL. liJB 

No. XIX. 

Dartmoor, April 14,1815. 

Sir — Yours, of tHe 12th Inst, came to hand this morning. It is with as- 
loniihinent we note its contents, that the officers who came to inquire into 
the circamftances of the late unfortunate affair, fhould have informed you, 
that the prifoners dated to them, the caufe of that event was that their gov- 
ernment or its agent had nc^lefted them. This is a moft deliberate falff- 
hood, let your authors be who they may We deny not, that the anxiety 
of the prifoners to get leleafed from here has been great ; they have evenc-n- 
fured vou as being dilatory in your preparations for that purpofe — but 
their government they have never implicated — and you may reft afifured, 
that they have too much of the genuine fpirit of Americans, to apply to the 
officers of a foreign government tor relief, or to make them a party in any 
difpute with the governn)ent or its agents. 

We folemnly dlTure you, that whatever anxiety among the prifoners, or 
•want of confidence in your exertions, as above ftjted, may have cxifted 
among them, tliat it can in no way be conftrued to have any coUufion or 
connetlion with the late event, and was exprefsly fo ftated to the admiral, 
•who came here trom Plymouth. 

We. on the contrary, in the name of the five thoufand prifoners confined 
here, accufe Shortland of a deliberate, pre-determined aft of atrocious mur- 
der—we have fiifficient evidence in our pofreffion to prove it to the world, 
and we call on you (there being at prefent no accredited minifter or charge 
des affaires at the court of London) to make ftrift inquiries into the cir- 
cumftances of the cafe, and procure all the evidence necedary for a proper 
inveftigation into the fame; for well do we feel allured, that our govern- 
ment will not thus fuffcrits citizens to he facrificed, for the gratification of 
national prejudice, malice or revenge of the petty officers of a foreign ftate. 

We are at no lofs to impute the mifreprefentation of the Britifh officers 
to their proper motives. They artfully wifh to excite in your brcaft» a 
fpirit of enmity and refentment againft^ the prifoners, that you might ule 
lels peifeveranct, or h-^] yourfelf lefs iiitereftcd in making the proper in- 
quiries into the late alfiiir. 

With mucii refpeft wc remain, fir. your moft obedient and humble 
fcrvants, 

WILLIAM FIOBART, 
WALTER COLTON, 
HENRY ALLEN. 

/?. G. Beajley, Efq. Agent for Prifoners, London. 

No. XX. 
zd Letter from Mr. Beajley to the American Committee. 

Agency for American Prifoners of War^ 
London, April 14, 1815. 
Gentlemen — My letter to you of the 12th inft. on the fubjeft of the 
rnclancholy event, was written under an impreffion which I received from 
a report of it, tranfmitted to me»by this government .• I have fince received 
vour report of the circumftances. Had I been in polfeffion of the infir- 
rnation therein contamed, the letter would have been differently expreff**!. 
3 am. gentleman, your obedient fervant, R. G. BEASLEY. 

Committee of American Prifoners, Dartmoor. 

P. S. 1 fubjoin an extract of the report alluded to from the Lords Cofci- 
miflionersof the Admiralty : 



^0^ iOURNAL. 

'• The rioters, it appears, endeavored to overpower the guard, to force 
thcprifon, and had actually fcized the arms of feme of the fold icrs, and 
made a breach in the walls of the depot, when the guard found itfelf obli- 
ged to have recourfe to their fire arms, and five of the rioters were killed, 
and thirty-four wounded, after which the tumult fubfided, and the depot 
was placed in a ftate of tranquility and fecurity. 

*' Admiral Sir J. T. Duckworth, Commander in Chief at Plymouth, 
having received information of this unfortunate event, loft no time ind:- 
refting Rear Admiral Sir Jnfias Rowley, Baronet, K. C. B. and Schorn- 
berg, the two fenior officers at that port, to proceed to Dartmoor, and to 
enquire into the circumftances. Thofe officers accordingly repaired to the 
depot, where they found, on examination of the officers of the depot, and 
ail ths American prifoners who were called before them, that the circumftances 
of the riot were as before ftated ; but that no cxcufe could be alngned for 
the conduft of the prifoners, but their impatience to be releafed ; and the 
Americans unanimoufty declared, that their complaint of delay was not 
againft the Britifh government, but againft their own, which ought to have 
il'ent means for their early conveyance horn?, and in replies to diftinct quef- 
f ions to that eflFeft, they declared they had no ground of complaint what- 
foev«r." 

No. XXI. 

DARTMOOR, APRIL 1 7, 1815. 

To Rear Admiral Sir J. T, Duckworth, 

Sir — The officers whom you fent to this place to inqu're into the 
circumftance of the unfortunate occurrence of the 6th inft. whatever right 
they had to reprefent the condu6l of Capt Shortland in the moft favorable 
manner, we conceiv« it an a6l of grofs injuftice that they fhould have giv- 
en to you fuch a falfe and fcandalous reprefentation of what they were 
told by the prifoners. 

Til the report from the admiralty board to Mr. Beafley, (a copy of which 
he has tranfmitted to us) it is ftated that the prifoners, when called upon to 
give an account of the circumftances of the 6th, ex -meratcd Capt Shortland 
and the Englifh government from any blame refpefting the fame, and ac- 
cufed their own government and its agent of being the caufe. 

We, on the contrary, folemnly declare that it was exprefsly ftated to Ad- 
njiral Rowley, that whatever anxiety might have exifted among the priC 
oners for a fpeedy releafe, could, in no way whatever, be conftrued to have 
had any coilufion or connexion with that event. That the prifoners, fo 
far from having any idea of attempting to break out, if the gates had been 
opened, and every one fuffirred to go who might wiffi to do fo, not one 
in a hundred would have left the prifon, having no means of fuUfiftence in 
a foreign country, and being likewife liable to impressment, when by 
ftayingafew days longer, they would, probabJy, be embarked for their 
native country. 

They, on the cantrary, accufed Capt. Shortland of being the fole mover 
and principal perpetrator of the unprovoked and horrid butchery 

Conceiving, from your well known charafter in the Britifh navy for 
integrity and candor, that you would not wifli to have your name the me- 
dium of impoling fuch a grofs mifreprefentation and fuch direftfalfehoods 
on the adnoiralty board and-the Britilh public, we have taken the liberty of 
tl us addreffing you, and have the honor to fubfcribe ourfelves your moft 
obedient and very humble fervants. 

Win, Hohart, Walter Colton, Henry Alkn^ TJwmas B, 
M9tt, Win. B. Ornc, 

C»nmitlcc of American PrifonsrSj Vartimof. 



JOURNAL. 201 

{In addition to the documents furnifhed by tfic committee of the Dart- 
moor prifoncis. we lay the following affidavit of Archibald Taylor before 
the public. Will people doubt this evidence alio ? Is it likely that com- 
mon foldiers, hired aff.iflins, would make ufe of fimilar exprfiffions from 
their own impulles ? or is it not much more conformable to common 
fenfc to believe that this was the language held by their officers, and that 
they echoed it.] 

City of New York, ss, 
Archibald Taylor, late commander of the Paul Jones private armed vef" 
fel of war, bemg duly fworn, doth depofe and fay — 

That he was a prifoner in Dartmoor prifon at the time of the late maf- 
sacrcof the Americans ; that after the affair of the 6th of April, and on 
the night of the fame day, he was in the prifon No. 3, aflifting Thomas 
Smith, late his boatfwai'i, who was ftiot through his leg by the foldiers ni 
the yard, when an order was received to have all the wounded removed 
from the prilbns to the hofpital ; and while this deponent was carrying 
the faid Tlios. Smith to the door of the prifon, to deliver him to the 
guards felefted to receive him, fome of the foldiers obferved to this de- 
ponent, " this is in turn for the affair at New Orleans, where you killed 
our men, and now we have our revenge" — and further this deponent faith 
not. ARCHIBALD TAYLOR. 

Sworn before me, this 28th June, 1815, 

AARON H. PALMER, Notary Public. 

KING AND LARPENT'S REPORT, 

Plij7mutk, 18th April, 1815. 

We the undersigned commissioners, appointed on behalf of our 
respective g-overnments, to inquire into and report upon, the unfortu- 
nate occurrence of the 6th April inst. at Dartmoor Prison ; having 
carefully perused the proceeding's of the several courts of inquiry, in- 
stituted immediately after that event, by the orders of Admiral hir 
John T Duckworth and Major-General Brown, re.spectively, as well 
as the depositions taken at the coroner's inquest upon the bodies of 
the prisoners, who lost their lives upon that melancholy occasion ; upon 
which inquest the jury found a verdict of justifiable homicide; pro- 
ceeded immediately to the examination upon oath in the presence of 
one or more of the magistrates of the vicinity, of all the witnesses, 
both American and EngTig-h, who offered themselves for that purpose ; 
or who could be discovered as likely to afford any material informa- 
tion on the subject, as well as those who had been previously exam- 
ined before the coroner, as otherwise, to the number in the whole of 
about eighty. We further prsceeded to a minute examination of the 
prisons, for the purpose of clearing' up some points which, upon the 
evidence alone, were scarcely intellig-ible ; obtaining- from the prison- 
ers, and from the officers of the depot, all the necessary assistance 
and explanation ; and premising-, that we have been from necessity 
compelled to draw many of our conclusions from statements and evi- 
dence highly contradictory, we do now make upon the whole proceed- 
ings the following report: — 

During the period which has elapsed since the arrival in this coim- 
try of the account of the ratification of the treaty of Ghent, an increals- 
cd degree of restlessness and impatience of confinenient appears to 
17* 



2b;e /©URNAL. 

have prevaile<l amongst the American prisoners at Hartmoor, whicTiT 
ihoiig-h not cxnibiicd in the shape of any violent excesses, has been 
principally indicated by threats of breaking- out if not soon released. 

(JM the 4Ui of this month in parVieular,onlytvvo days previous to the 
events which are the subject of this inquiry, a large body of the pri- 
soners rushed into the market-square, from whence, by the reg;ula- 
tions of the prison they are excluded, demavided bread instead of bis- 
cuit, which liad on that day been issued by the officers of the depot ; 
their demands having- been then almost immediately complied with . 
tiiey returned to their own yards, and the employment of force on 
CI Kit occasion became unwecessary 

On the eveninj^ of the 6tii, about six o'clock, it was clearly proved 
to us, that a breach or hole had been made in one of the prison walls, 
sufficient for a full sized man to pass, and that others had been com- 
menced in the course of the day near the same spot, thoug-h never 
\'«mpleted. 

That a number of the prisoners were over the railing erected to 
prevent them from communicating- with the centinels on the walls* 
which was of course forbidden by tiie regulations of the prison, and 
i4)Ht in the space between the railing and those walls they were tear- 
jng up pieces of turf, and wantonly pelting each other in a noisy and 
disorderly manner 

Tiiat a much more considerable number of the prisoners was coU 
>ected togedier at that time in one of their yards near the place where 
tlie breach was effected, and that although such collection of prison- 
ers was not tsnusual at other times (the Gambling Tables being com- 
?nor.ly kept in that part of the yard) yet, when connected with the 
circumstances of the breach, and the time of the day, which was after 
ttie hour the signal for the prisoners to retire to their respective pri- 
«wns had ceased to soimd. it became a natural and just ground of 
alarm to those who had charge of the depot 

h was also in evidence that in the building formerly the petty offi- 
cers' prison, but now the guard barrack, which stands in the yard to 
•«iucii the hole in the wall would serve as a communication, a part of" 
ti»c arms of the guard who were off duty, were usually kept in the 
racks, and thougii there was no evidence that this was, in any re- 
spect, the motive which induced the prisoners to make the opening 
in the wall, or even that they were ever acquainted with the fact; it- 
uaturally became at least a further cause of sucpicion and alarm, and 
an adf'.itional reason for precaution 

Upon these grounds Capt. Shortland appears to us to have been 
justificel in giving tiie order, which about this time he seems to have 
fViven, to sound tlie alarm bell, tl)e usual signal for collecting the oiti- 
ct-rs of the depot and p-atting the military on the alert. 

However reasonable and justifiable this was as a measure of pre- 
caution, the ellccis produced thereby in the prisons, but which could 
iiol have been intended, were most unfortunate, and deeply to be re- 
f»rettcd. A considerable number of the prisoners in the yards where 
no disturbance existed before, and who were either already within 
their respective prisons, or quietly retiring as usual towards them^ 
*mnicdiatoly upon the sound of the bell rushed back from curiosity 
{kh it appcuj-sj U>v.'ards the gaits, where by that time dte crowd had 



J.OURNAfl. 20^ 

assembled, and many who were at the time absent from their yards^ 
were also from the plan of the prison, compelled, in order to reach 
iheir own homes, to pass tlie same spot, and thus that which was 
merely a measure of precaution, in its operation iflcreased the evil 
it was intended to prevent Almost at the same instant that the 
alarm bell rung, (but whether before or subsequent is upon the evi- 
dence doubtful, though Capt. bhortland states it positively as one of 
his further reasons for causing- it to ring) some one or^more of the 
p!-isoners broke the iron chain, which was the only fastening of No. 1 
gate, leading into the market square by means of an iron bar ; and a 
very considerable number of the prisoners immediately rushed towards 
that gate ; and many of tliem began to press forwards as fast as the 
opening- would permit into the square- 

Tiiere was no direct pro-'jf bef(;re us of pre\aous concert or prepar- 
ation on the part of the prisoners, and no evidence of their intention 
or disposition to effect their escape on this occasion, excepting that 
which arose by inference from the whole of the above detailed circum" 
stances connected together. 

The natural and almost irresistible inference to be drawn, however, 
from the conduct of the pr soners by Capt. Shortland and ihe military 
was, that an intention on the part of the prisoners to escape was on 
the point of being carried into execution, and it was at least certain 
that they were by force passing beyond the limits prescribed to them 
at a time when they ought to have been quietly going in for the night. 
It was also in evidence that the outer gates of the market square were 
usually opened about this time to let the bread waggons pass and re- 
puss to the store, although at the period in question they were in fact 
ciiised. 

Under these circumstances, and with these impressions necessarily 
operating upon his mind, and a knowledge that if the prisoners once 
penetrated through the square, the power of escape was almost to a 
certainty afforded to them, if they should be so disposed ; Capt. bhort- 
land in the first instance proceeded down the square towards the pri- 
soners, having ordered a part of the different guards, to the number of 
about fifty only at first, (though they were increased afterwards) to 
follow him. For some time both he and Dr. Magrath endeavored by 
quiet means and persuasion, to induce the prisoners to return to their 
own yardsj explaining to them the fatal consequences which must en- 
sue if they refused, as the military would in that case be necessarily 
compelled to employ force rhe guard was by this time formed in 
tlie rear of Capt. Shortland, abom tv;o thirds of the way down the 
square — the latter is about one hundred feet broad, and the guard ex- 
tended nearly all across. Capt Shortland, finding that persuasion 
was ail in vain, and that although some were induced by it to make 
an effort to retire, others pressed on in considerable numbers, at last 
ordered about 15 file of the guard, nearly in front of the gate vyhicia 
liad been forced, to charge the prisoners back to their own yards. 

The prisoners were in some places so near the military, that one of 
the soldiers states that he could not come fairly down to the charge j 
and the military were unwilling to act as against an enemy Some 
struggling ensued between the parties, arising partly from mtention, 
but niauiiy from the pressure of those behind preventing those in ttovA 



20^ JOURNAL. 

from getting back. After some little time, however, this ch.irge af>- 
pears to hu\e been so far effective, and tijat with little or no injury to 
thi^ prisoners, as to have driven them for the most part quite down 
out of liie square, v/ith the exception of a small number who continued 
their resistance about ^.o 1 gate. 

A great crowd still remained collected afier this in the passage be- 
tween the square and the prisoners' yards, and in the part f>f those 
vards in the vicinity of the gate-s. — This assemblage still refused to 
withdraw, and according to most of the Knglish witnesies and some 
of the American, was making a noise, hallowing, insulting and pro- 
voking, and daring the military to fire, and according to the testimony 
of several of the Sv)ldiers, and some others were pelting the military 
wit!^ large stones, by which some of them were actually struck. This 
circumstance is, however, denied by many of the American witnesses ; 
and some of the Engligh.upon having the question put to them, stated 
tliat they saw no stone's thrown previously to the firing, although their 
situation at the time was such as to enable theiw to see most of the 
proceedings in the square. > 

Under these circumstances the firing commenced — With reg-ard to 
any order having been given to fire the evidence is very contradictory. 
Several of the Americans swear possitively, that Capt Shortland gave 
that order ; but the manner in which from the confusion of the mo- 
ment, they described this part, of the transaction, is so different in its 
details that it is very difficult to reconcile their testimony. Many of 
the soldiers and other English witnesses, beard the word given by 
some one, but no one of them can swear it was by Capt Shortland, 
or by any one in particular, and some, amongst whom is the officer 
commanding the guard, think, if Capt. Shortland had given such an 
order that they must have heard it, which they did not. In addition 
to this Capt. Shortland denies the fact; and from the situation which 
lie appears to have been placed at the time, even according to the 
American witnesses, in front of the soldiers, it may appear somewhat 
improbable that he should then have given such an order. 

But, however, it may remain a matter of doubt whether the firing 
first began in the square by order, or was a spontaneous act of the 
soldiers themselves, it seemed clear that it was continued and renewed 
both there and elsewhere without orders; and that on the platforms, 
and in several places about the prison, it was certainly commenced 
without any authority. 

The fact of an order having been given at first, provided the firing 
was under the existing circumstances justifiable, does not appear very 
material in any other point of view, than as shewing a want of self 
possession and discipline in the troops if they should have fired with- 
out older. 

With regard to the above most important consideration, of whether 
the firing was justifiable or not, we are of opinion, under all the cir- 
cumstances of the case, from the apprehension which the soldiers 
might fairl}- entertain, owing lothe numbers and conduct of the prison- 
ers, that this firing to a certain extent was justifiable in a military 
point of view, in order to intimidate the prisoners, and compel them 
thereby 10 desist from all acts of violence, and to retire us they were or- 
dered.'from a situation in which the responsibility of the agents, and 
the military, could not permit them with safety to remain. 



JOURNAL. 50S 

From the fact of the crowd being* so close and the firing- at first be- 
ing attended with very little injury, it appears probable that a larg-e 
proportion of the muskets were, as stated by one or two of the witness- 
es, levelled over the heads of the prisoners } a rircumstance in some 
respects to be lamented, as it induced them to cry out " blank cart- 
ridges,** and merely irritated and encouraged them to renew their in- 
sults to the soldiery, which produced a repetition of the firing in a 
manner much more destructive. 

Tlie firing in the square having continued for some time, by which 
several of the prisoners sustained injuries, the greater part of them ap- 
pear to have been running back with the utmost precipitation and 
confusion to their respective prisons, and the cause fur further firing 
seems at this period to have ceased. It appears, accordipgly, that 
Capt. Shortland was in the market square exerting himself and giving 
orders to that effect, and that Lieut. Fortye had succeeded in stop*, 
ping the fire of his part of the guard. 

Under these circumstances, it is very difncult to find any justifica- 
tion for the further continuance and renewal of the firing, which cer- 
tainly took place both in the prison yards and elsewhere; tliough we 
have soTTie evidence of subsequent provocation given to the military, 
and resistance to the turnkeys in shutting the prisons, and of btoncs 
being thrown out from within the prison doors. 

The subsequent firing rather appears to have arisen from the state 
of individual irritation and exasperation on the part of the soldiers, who 
followed the prisoners into their yards, and from the absence of nearly 
all of the officers who might have restrained it, as well as from the 
great difficulty of putting an end to a firing when once commenced 
under such circumstances. Capt. Shortland was from this time busily 
occupied with the turnkeys in the square, receiving and taking care of 
the wounded Ensign White remained with his guard at the breach, 
and Lieuts Ayelyne and Fortye, the only other subalterns known to 
have been present, continued with the main bodies of their respective 
guards. 

The time of the day, which was the officers* dinner hour, will in some 
measure explain this, as it caused the absence of every officer from the 
prison whose presence was not indispensable there And this circum-- 
stance which has been urged as an argument to prove the intention of 
the prisoners to take this opportunity to escape, tended to increase the 
confusion, and to prevent those g'eat exertions being made which 
might perhaps have obviated a portion at least of the mischief which 
ensued 

At the same time that the firing was going on in the square, a cross 
fire was also kept up from several of the platforms on the walls round 
the prisoners where tlie centries stand, by straggling parties of sol- 
diers who ran up there for that purp'>se As far as this fire was di- 
rected to disperse the men assembled round the breach, for wt.ich pur- 
pose it was most effectual, it seems to stand upon the same ground as 
that in the first instance in the square — That part which it is positively 
sworn was directed ag-alnst straggling parties of prisoners running about 
the yards and endeavoring to enter in the few doors which the turnkeys, 
according to their usu;d practice, had left open, does seem, as stated, 
Ui have bsan wholly without object or excuse, and to have been a waR^ 



206 JOURNAL. 

ton attack upon the lives of defenceless, and at that time, unoffending 
individuals. 

In the same, or even more severe terms, we must remark upon what 
was proved as to the firing- in the door-ways of" the prisons, more par- 
ticuhirly into that of No 3 prison, at a 'time when the men wei e in 
crowds' at the entrance. From the position of the prison and the door, 
and from the marks of the balls which were pointed out to us, as well 
as from the evidence, it was clear this firing must have proceeded 
from soldiers a verj' few feet from the door way ; and aithoug-h it was 
certainly sworn that the prisoners were at the time of pari of the firing 
at least, continuing to insult and occasionally to throw stones at th.e 
soldiers, and that they were standing in the way of, and impeding the 
turnkey, who was there for the purpose of closing tlie door, yet still 
there was nothing stated which could, in our view, at all justify such 
excessively harsh and severe treatment of helpless and unarmed pri- 
soners, when all idea of escape was at an end 

Under these impressions, we used every endeavor to ascertain if 
there was the least piospect of indentifying any of the soldiers who 
had been guilty of the particular outrages here alluded to, or of tracing 
any pailicular death, at that time to the firing of any particular indi- 
vidual, but without success ; and all hopes of bringing the offenders 
to punishment would seem to be at an end. 

In conclusion, we, the undersigned, have only to add, that whilst 
we lament, as we do most deeply, the untoitunate transaction which 
has been the subject of this inquiry, we find ourselves unable to sug- 
gest any steps to be taken as to those parts of it which seem to call for 
redress and punishment. 

(Signed) CHARLES KING, 

'FRANCES SEYMOUR LARPENT. 

Plymouth, April 26, ]8\ 5. 

Sir — Tn pursuance of the instructions received fiom Messrs Clay 
and Gallatin, I have now the honor to transmit to you the report pre- 
pared by Mr. Larpent and myself on behalf of our respective govern- 
ments, in relation to the unfortunate transactions at Dartmoor Prison of 
War, on the 6th of the present month Considering it of much im- 
portance that the report, whatever it might be, should go forth under our 
joint signatures, I have forborne to press some of the points which it 
involves, as far as othei'wise I might have done, and it therefore may 
not be improper in this letter to enter into some little explanation of 
such parts of the report. 

Although it does appear that a part of the prisoners were on that 
evening in such a state, and under such circumstances as to have jus- 
tified, in the view which the commander of the depot could not but 
take of it, the intervention of the milit.iry force, and even in a strict 
sense, the first use of fire arms, yet I cannot but express it as my set- 
tled opinion, that by conduct a little more temporising this dreadful 
alternative of firing upon unarmed piisoners might have been avoided. 
Yet as this o,)inion has been the result of subsequent examination, and 
atterliaving acquired a knowledge of the comparatively harmhss state 
ol tlie prisoners, it may be but fair to consider, whether in such a mo- 
Bicntof confusion and alarm, as that appears to have been, the officeir 



JOURNAL. 207 

.-r>mmanflin^ could have fairly estimated his danc^er, or have measured 
out with precision the extent and nature of the force necessary to guard 
against it. 

But when the firinc;' became general as it afterwards appears to have 
been, and caug'ht with electric rapidity from the square to the plat- 
forms, there is no plea nor sliadow of excuse for it, except in the per- 
sonal exasperation of the soldiery, nor for the more deliberate, and 
therefore more unjustifiable firint^ which took place into three of the 
prisons, No. 1, 3 and 4, but more particularly into No 3, after the pri- 
soners h id retired into them, and there was no longer any pretence of 
apprehensions, as to their escape — Upon this s^round, as you, sir, will 
perceive by the report, Mr Larpent and myself bad no difference of 
opinion, and I am fvilly persuaded that my own regret was not greater 
than his at perceiving how hopeless would be the attempt to trace to 
anv imlividuuls of the military these outrageous proceedings. 

As to whether the order to fire came from Cant. Shortland, I yet 
confess mvself unable to form any satisf.ictoi7 oninion. though per- 
haps the bias of my mind is, that he did give such an order But his 
anxiety and exertions to stop it after it had continued for some little 
time, are fully proved, and his general conduct previous to this occur- 
rence, as far as we could with propriety enter into such details, ap- 
pears to have been characterized with great fairness, and even kind- 
ness, in the relation in which he stood towards ihe prisoners. 

On the subject of any cotnplavits against their own govemtnent exist' 
ing among the prisoners, it was invariably answered to several distinct 
questions put by me on that head, tkat none ivhatsoever exiited or had 
been expressed by them, although they confessed themselves to enter- 
tain S(jme animosity against Mr. Beasley, to whom they attributed their 
detention in this country ; with what justice, you sir, will be better 
able to judge. They made no complaint whatsoever as to their pro- 
visions and general mode of living, and treatment in the prison. 

I have transmitted to Mr. Beasley, a list of the killed and wounded 
on this melancholy occasion, with a request that he would forward it 
to the United States, for the information of their friends at home, and 
I am pleased to have it in my power to say, that the wounded are for 
the most part doing well. 

1 have also enclosed to Mr. Beasley, the notes taken by mie of the 
evidence adduced before us, with a request that he would have them 
fairly copied, as also a copy of the depositions taken before the Coro= 
ner, and desired iiim to submit them to you when in ordei*. 

I cannot conclude, sir, without expressing my high sense of the im- 
partiality and manly fairness with which this enquiry has been con- 
ducted on the part of Mr. Larpent, nor without mentioning that every 
facility was afforded to us in its prosecution, as well by the military 
officers commanding here and at the prison, as by the magistrates in 
the vicinity. 

I have the honor to be, with much respect, your most obedient hum- 
ble servant. (.Signed) CHARLES KING, 

His Excellency yohn ^ Adonis, CfC. CfC. 



DARTMOOR PRISON. 



A lieturn of American prisoners of ivar kjlled and ivmtnded in an attempt to force the 
military guard on the evenirif; of the 6/h of Api il. 1915. 



?i^? 








Whether man 




:; _?i 


Names. 


equality. 


Ship. 


of war,mercb. 


Remarks. 


S sSg- 








vessel, or pri- 




PI T 3_ 








vateer. 




1 


4884 


V f William Leveridge, 
S j James Mann, 
pi Jobn Haywood, 

!2 Joseph T. Johnson, 
' "-John Washington, 


Seaman, 


Enterprize, prize to 


Privateer. 




2 


970 


do. 


Siro, [Sai-aioga. 


Let.of marque 




3 


3134 


do. 


Gavehimaelfupfrvm 




Irapres'd. 








H. M. S. Scipion. 






4 


1347 


do. 


Paul Jones, 


Privateer, 




5 


3>^36 


do. 


Hnlla. 


Mercb. vessel. 




i 


6520 




Thomas Jaekson, 


Boy, 


Gavehimsetfupfrom 
H. M. S. Proutes. 




Imp. died 

Ap.7,1815 


2 


2647 




James Campbell, 


Seaman, 


Gavehimselfupfrorn 
H M.S.VuloTUaire. 




Imp. died 
Ap.7,18lS 


3 


5769 




John Gier. 


do. 


Rambler, 


Merch. vessel. 




•4 


1722 




William Penn, 


do. 


Dispatch, 


do. 


Impres'd. 
at London 


S\ 5003 




Cornelius Garrison. 


do. 


Invincible, 


Let. of Marq. 




e 3614 




H. Hontcalm, 


do. 


Homeby, p.G.Tom 


Privateer, 




7, 1965 




Robert Willet, 


do. 


Gavehimselfupfrorn 




Impres'd. 












H. M. SA ndroniache 






8 


5326 




John Peach, 


do. 


Enterprize, 


Privateer, 




9 


2148 




Edw. Wittlebark, 


do. 


Gavehimselfut}from 
HM S.Ro.mUiam. 




Impres'd. 


30 


1881 




James Thombull, 


Boy. 


Elbridge Gerry, 


Privateer, 




11 


3652 




James Wells, 


Seaman, 


Thorn. 


do. 




12 
13 


1236 
685 




Philip Ford, 
James Bell, 


do. 
do. 


Ga himself up fr.H 
S.B&\^o\slM S.Sult. 


Mercht, vessel, 


Impres'd* 


14 


04 


^ 


John Grey, 


do 


St.Martin'sPlanter. 


do. 




15 


436 


d 


Wm. Leversa^, 


do. 


Magdalene, 


do. 




16 


1024 




l-^ward Gardner, 


do. 


Joseph, 


do. 




17 


1546 


Stephen Phipps, 


do. 


Zebra, 


Let. of Marq. 




18 


486 




John Roberts, 


do. 


Two Brothers, 




Impress- 
ed at Cork 


19 


1640 


• 


Thomas Smith, 


do. 


Paul Jones. 


Privateer, 




20 


1819 




Caleb Codding, 


do. 


Gavehimselfupfrorn 
H M.S.Siviftsiire. 




Impres'd. 


21 


5015 




Jacob Davis, 


do. 


Charlotte.p.toMam- 


Privateer, 




22 


2013 




James Esdaille, 


do. 


G.Tomkins, [moth. 


do. 




23 


380 




Peter Wilson. 


do. 


Virginia Planter, 


Mercht. vessel, 




24 


2884 




William Blake, 


do. 


G.himse:fupfr.HM. 




Impres'd. 


25 


338 




Jo!ni Hogabets, 


2d Mate, Gd.Frieiids,[5/?e/>u.i 


Mercht.vessel, 




26 


4153 




E|)hraim Lincoln. 


Seaman, 


Argus, 


do- 




27 


44-33 




Thomas Findlay, 


do. 


Enterprize, 


Privateer, 




2« 


4100 




John Howard, 


do. 


Flash, 


do. 




29 


1228 




Joseph Ma^icU, 


do. 


Gn. himself up from 
H. M. S. Furieux. 




Impres'd. 


30 


6123 




Robert Fillez, 


do. 


Grand Turk, 


Privateer. 




31 


1812 




John Willett, 


do. 


Ga himselfupfrom 
H. M. S. Rosario. 




Impres'd. 


3? 


3080 




John Perry, 


do. 


Dofr.H.M S.Tiger. 




[mpres'd. 


ra 


2662 




..John Wilson. 


do. 


Dof H.M.SIortuna 




Impres'd. 


(Signed) 


THOMAS GEORGE SHORTLAND, Agent. 








(Signed) 


GEOR 


GE MAGRATH, i 


turgeon. 





JOURNAL. 209 

Reply to King and Lakpent's Report. 

To the People of the United States. 

Having perused, with attention, the report of Mr. Charles King, 
and Francis Sevmour Larpent. on their examination of the 
unfortunate occurrence at Dartmoor, on the 6th of April last — 

We, the undersigned, being- there at the time this urfortunate OC' 
currence took place, deem it a duty we owe to the surviving suiTer- 
ers of that bloody transaction, to our fellow-citizens, and ourselves, to 
make some remarks upon sucii a singular report Although we pre- 
sume the door is forever closed against any further investigation of 
that ever to be remembered transaction, we cannot help, however con- 
trary it may be to our wishes to irritate the public feeling, already so 
much excited, entering into a detailed investigation of that report. 

In the committee's address to the public on the 27th of June last, 
preceding the publication of the affidavits of some of the prisoners, 
taken on that melancholy affair, they have justly anticipated what 
would be the report of the commissioners, after their investigation ; 
*;hey drew their conclusions from the singular manner in which the in- 
vestigation was conducted Tlie report commences by stating", that, 
after carefully perusing the proceedings of the several courts of inqui- 
ry, instituted immediately after that event, they proceeded immedi- 
ately to the examination, upon oath, of \LLthe witnesses, both Amer- 
ican and Knglish, who offered themselves for that purpose. How far 
this part of the report is correct, we shall leave the public to judge 

On the arrival of the commissioners at the depot, the commit- 
tee of the prison were sent for ; after waiting some time at the 
door of the room, where the enquiry was held, they were called in 
separately and questioned as to their knowledge of the transactions of 
the sixth. The depositions of those who were eye-v/itnesses of that 
disgraceful scene were taken ; some were questioned as to the gener- 
al conduct of Sliortland, previous to that aflfair ; it was represented by 
them as it would have been by all, as being imiversally cruel, over- 
bearing and oppressive. After having finished the examination of the 
comm.ittee, tliey requested them to bring forward all the evidence 
that was likely to cast any light on the subject of enquiry They ac- 
cordingly, returned into the prison, and drew up a list of the names 
of some of the eye-witnesses of tliat day's occurrence.— Although they 
could have brought hundreds to the examination, and the sum of 
whose evidence would have amounted to the same, yet, the committee 
not wishing to impede the progress of the investigation, by a redun- 
dancy of evidence, they were careful to select such men as were most 
likely to give a clear and distinct account of all the circumstances, as 
they occurred, under their knowledge, taking care, at the same time, 
to procure those whose different situations afforded tiiem an oppor- 
tunity of witnessing that transaction, from the commencement to the 
close. Such was the evidence the committee' had selected, to the num- 
ber of about fifty, very few of whom were ever examined, although 
they were kept waiting in the turnkey's lodge (where they were or- 
dered to stay until called for) during the hours of investigation In 
tke course of the enquiry, it seems, the commissioners found it neces- 
/ 18 



;210 JOURNAL. 

sary to survey the particular situation of the prisons, and the points 
from wlilch the clifF-rent attacks were made ; they accordingly came 
into the vai-d for that purpose, and after having- been shown all the 
places from whence the firini^ was continued, wliere the crowd of pris- 
oners had assembled on the first alarm, and where the hole, so much 
made a handle of, had been made — after a slight survey of these dif- 
ferent places, they retired into their session room, leaving orders, once 
more, with the committee to hold their evidence in readiness, as they 
would soon be called upon for examination. The committee replied 
tliat they had been in readiness since the commencement of the en- 
quiry, and were then only waiting their orders to appear before them, 
feeling happy in the idea of liaving it in their power to show to the 
court, and to" the world, by the evidence they had to produce, that the 
attack of Shortland on the defenceless prisoners, was premeditated 
and unjustifiable in any point of view. 

After attending in the turnkey's lodge during the sitting of the com- 
missioners, until the middle of the third day, without having but very 
few of the evidences sent for, and being fearful that they might be 
waiting for them, the committee sent them word that the witnesses 
were still in attendance. No answer being returned to this message 
for some time, the committee became uneasy on account of the long 
examination of the officers, soldiers, clerks, and turnkeys, attached to 
the depot, without admitting the prisoners to an equal privilege ; and 
tindcrstanding-the commissioners were about closing their enquiry, 
they again sent word they would be glad to have an interview for a 
few moments, for the purpose of explaining the nature of their evi- 
dence, and the necessity of a full hearing on both sides af the question. 

No ANSWER BEING RETURNED TO THIS RE Q^UE ST, and Still Waiting 

with the anxious hope that they would soon send for some of us when 
we were told by one of the turnkeys, that the commissioners were 
prepared to depart, having finished the examination Astonished to 
think they meant to leave the depot without clearly investigating the 
circumstances that were the cau'^ of their meeting, and feeling indig- 
nant that a cause of so much importance should be passed over so 
partially, the committee addressed a note to Mf King, begging hira 
not to shut the door of communication against the prisoners, by clos- 
ing the inquiry without giving them the privilege of a hearing, as the 
greatest part of our witnesses were yet unt'xamined.and their evidence 
they conceived to be of the utmost importance to the investigation. 
2^0 reply was viade to this note ; but, in a few moments, we were told, 
that the connr:issionevs had hft the depot. How fa)' they are justifia^ 
ble in saying they examined ai^l the evidences that offered themselves, 
we think is sufficiently shewn. 

The commissioners next go on to mention the insurrection of the 
prisoi„ s about the bread, on the 4th, two da}s previous to the events, 
the su* ject of that enquiry. Ahhough the report correctly states, tlift 
prisoners quietly returned to their own yards, after their demands 
having been complied with, Mr King forgot to mention, tliat it was 
clearly re[)resented to him, had the prisoners been so disposed on that 
night, they could have easily made their escape. Although tliat trans- 
action had nothing to do, as relates to the prisoners, with the events of 
iKe sixih, we merely represent this circumstance to shew, that there 



Mi 



lOURNAL. 



211 



was no Intention whatever on their part to break out of the prison, as 
Shortland and his adherents have attempted to prove. 

The report now cjoes on to mention, that on the eveninp; of the sixth 
•jf April, about six o'clock in the evening, a hole was made in one of 
the walls of the prison saSicient for a full-sized man to pass, and others 
had been commenced, but never completed, and that a number of th.e 
jM-isoners were over the railin.i; erected to prevent them from c()mmu- 
nicating- with the sentinels on the walls, and that they were tearing up 
pieces of turf and v/anlonly pelting each other in a r-oisy manner 

As to the hole made in the wall, we believe the causes and reasons 
have been already sufficiently explained by the affi(kvits laid bef-.re 
the pubUc. With respect to the prisoners being between the iron pal- 
ing and the wall, it could have been, if it was not, easily explained to 
mV. King, had he given an opportunity. It seems, thaL on the afier- 
no'jn ofthe 6*.ii, some of tlic prisoners having obtained Icwae of the sen- 
tinels on the walls to go over and lay upon tiie grass, oihers seeing 
them laying so much at their ease, went over to enjoy the same privi- 
lege ; and as the 'sentinels made no objectiyn to tins proceeding, the 
number was soon ii\creased to such a degree, that it becam.e no longer 
an enjoyment to those v/ho first obtained the privilege ; some scufiihig 
then ensued amorsg- themselves, and they began to pelt each other with 
turf and old shoes principally in play, and among so many, no doubt, 
thiir must have been considerable noise; but ho. v they can possibly 
connect this circumstance with the hole rar-de in the wall, is entirely 
out of our power to conceive, as the iron railings separated th.em from 
the precenJ.ed breach in the wall, and distant from it more than half 
the length of the yard ; of course, had tlie hole been intended as a 
breach, the iron paling would have become a baiTier, instead oi facd- 
itating the mean's of an escape. 

As to that part of the report which mentions the guai-d-barracks be- 
ing the repository fur the arms of the guard off duty, atid of its stand, 
ing in the yard to which the hole in the wall would seine as a coiii- 
7Uunication, and of its being a further cause of su3,Vicion and alarm to 
Captam Shortlav.d— to one acquainted with the situation of the prison, 
such an idea wo.dl be ridiculous ; but to those who are not acquainted 
with it, it will be only necessary for us to mention, that if the prisoners 
h:id tlie intention of breaking out through this passage, and had actu- 
ally got ir.to the barrack-\ard, the difficulties they would then have to 
encounter would be much greater than to break a passage through- 
the market square, or the back part of the yard. As to the idea of 
tlieir possessing themselves of the muskets standing in t!ie racks in tl;e 
guard-barracks (even if they knew of any being there) it is childish ; 
for how easy would it have'been for the commanding officer, on the 
shortest intimation of such an attempt, with one blust of his bugle, to 
have called all his guards to the spot before a hundredth part of th.e 
prisoners could have got into the yard, and by tl^at means instantly 
put a stop to any further proceedings on their part. 

We cannot conceive how Mr. King can possibly come forward ar.d 
say, on these (^-rounds, it appeared to him that Cupt Shortland was 
justified in giving the order for sounding the alarm bell, when, if lie 
found the prisoners were conducting themselves im.properly, had he 
sent for the committee (as always had been his custom heretofore. 



212 JOURNAL. 

when he had any charge ag-ainst the prisoners for improper conduct) 
and told them that the prisoners were breaking the wall (wliich cir- 
cumstance, as has been published before, was not known to one tenth 
of the prisoners) and req.iested them to have represented to tliose en- 
ga;^cd m it, the conseqaences that must ensue if they persisted in 
fiuch conduct, we have not a moment's hesitation in saying, they would 
have put a stop to any further proceedings of that kind. 

That part A'hich relates to the breaking of the iron chain which fast- 
ened No. 1 gate, and which follows next in the report, savs there was no 
evidence to show whether it was done befi re or after the alarm bell 
ran<r. As this was a material point on Mhich they grounded Shortland's 
justification, we have to regret that the evidence we had to lay before the 
commissioners, and which would, in our opinion, have sufficiently clear- 
ed up that point, was not examined. 

On the ringing of the alarm bell, the rush towards the gates lea<]ing 
into the mai-ket square was so great (attracts-d as has been before stated 
by curiosity) that those in front were irresistibh pushed forward by those 
in tlie rear, and if the chain had not broke the lock must ha\e given way 
to the pressure, and by this opening, it is but natural to suppose, that a 
number must have been shoved into the square in front o* the soldiers, 
who were drawn up in a line across the square, with Shortland at their 

head. 

If, as the report now goes on to state, there was no direct procfbefore 
them of a previous concert or preparation on the part ot the prisoners, 
and no evidence of their intention or disposition to effect their escape on 
this occasion, excepting that whicli arose by mference from the m hole 0*1 
llie detailed circumstances connected together, had Mr. King examined 
the evidence on the part of the prisoners, as minutely as it seems he ex- 
amined tfeose on the part of Shoi tland, he could not even have drawn the 
shadow of an infeveuce of that being their intention 

Where the commissioners gcft their evidence for asserting that Capt. 
Sh'jrlland, by quiet means and pei'Suasion, endeavored to persuade the 
prisoners to retire into their respective yaids, is unaccountable to us, as 
those who know Captain Shortland, know be is not a mai» of persuasion. — 
It is correct that Dr M'Grath used every exertion to ;;ersu:.de the pris. 
oners to retire out of the square, which if Shortlaiul had allowed suffi- 
cient time, would have been quietly done — but the crowd, by lliis time, 
had becurae so great, and the pressure from the rear so strong, lh:.t 
those in frotit couUI not retreat until time snould be a'lowed foi those in 
the rear to fall back, but the hasty, liaughty, and overbearing temper of 
Shortland could not allow him to use such concillatoi'v means. He or- 
ders (the report savs) fiitcen file of the guard frontiiig the open gate, to 
the charge ; and after some little time the charge was so (ffeclual, with 
but very litilo or no injury to the prisoners, as to dri\e tliem, for the 
raost pait, quite out of the square, with the exception of a small nunibci' 
who continued their resistance about No 1 gale. Under these circum- 
stances, continued the report, the firing coimnenced. 

Here wc heg leave to request an altenlive perusal of the affidavits of 
aoioe of the prisoners, taken by the committee, and whicii relate par- 
ticidarly to this part of the transaction. It is there positively stated that 
on the soldiers owning to tike charge the prisoners ALL reLreate<l into 
die yard and pudhed tb.;; gate to uiter them. If the commissioners bad 
examined that evitlLiicu, this part of tljo report ought to iiave been tlif- 
fcrently expressed 

Wc cannot conceive how Mr. King finds it difficult to reconcile the 
♦•'•.timony ce^pi.cting Captain Shoril-.iivrs giving the ordt-io U flie ; whea 



JOURNAL. 21 



he renftrls that several of the Americans swsar positively, 
that Captain Shortland gave tliat order— and many of t!ie soldiers uiui 
the Et)"-Iish witnesses heard the word given by some one, but coukl not 
S'.vear it wa5 bv Capt. Shorlland ; and some of them (among whom is t.ia 
officer co-nmaiiding the guard) think, if Cape. Shorthand had givra 
such an order, they must have heard it, which they did not Thus, tnen» 
stands the foundation for this part of the report. An English ofiicep 
THINKS it is not so, and several Americans swear it is so ; and hetinds 
it very difficult to reconcile their testimony. The lightness with which 
tliev seem to have passed over this most important point of that day s 
transaction, cannot but be deeply regretted by those who feel for the un- 
happy sufferers, when thev go on to state, " It may remain a matter of 
doubt whether the firing first began in the square by an order, or 
vhether it was a spontaneous act of the soldiers themselves ; it seuraed 
clear it was continued and renewed, both there and elsewhere, without 
orders— and that on the platforms and several places about the prison it 
was certainhi commenced -without any authority:* We must once more 
request the attenliou of the public to the affidavits already published ; it 
is there sworn by one of the witnesses, that previous to the alarm bell 
being rung, and'while walking in the yard, a soldier called to him from 
the -walls and told him t» go in, as they -would soon be Jived upo7u How, 
then, can it be possible, that a soldier on the walls should know that they 
would soon be fired upon, if the order had not been previously given to 
that effect ? And had the bugle-man been examined, he could have stated, 
that previous to the ringing of the alarm bell, he received orders to 
sound to fire ; so that when the soldiers took their stations on the walls, 
they were charged and prepared for that purpose With such informa- 
tion, we conceive the committee to stand fully justified in staling in their 
report, the belief of its being a pre-concerted plan, on the part of Short- 
Hand ; and if the commissioners had possessed themselves with a knowl- 
adge of these circumstances, which they eould and ought to have done, 
would they, then, reported Shortlai.d as justifiable, even in a mi'itary 
point of view ? 

Tiie next thing we have to notice in the report is, that very singular 
paragraT>h, which savs, '< from the fact of the crowd being so close, and 
the firing at/r5^ being attended with very little i7ijury, it appears proba- 
ble, that a lar:^^e proportion of the muskets were, as stated by one or two 
of the witnesses, levelled over ihe heads of the prisoners, a circum- 
stance, in some respects, to be lamented.^' Is it, then, to be lamented^ 
that the soldiers did not level their pieces, on the/rsif fire, directly into 
the crowd, which they have staled to be so great antl so clo^e that a sol- 
dier declared he cor.id not come fairly down to a charge .^ or is it to be 
lamented, that one or two hundred were not killed at the fir t discharge, 
and a thoasand or two wounded ? if so, we think it much to be lamented, 
that the reporters weie not there, and placed foremost in the crowd. 

The circumstance of so few being hurt at the first di!^el.arge is not 
strange to those who are acquainted with the situation ; and this occur- 
rence alone corroborates the American < vidence, and ougat to havebeea 
safficlent proof to the commissioners that the prisoners upon being cfsarg- 
cd u;.on, retreated through the gates, and shut them after ihem, before 
the tiriiig commenced and whicii circimstance, ahuie, should hae shut 
the door o. ju-stificatioo ;-g.<inst Shortiand for commenc.ng a fire upon 
them, as ihey wtre in their own yards. As this wus the actual iituatian 
of the prisoners on toe firat discliarge, and the soldiers having to fire 
through the iron p;.Iin;:-, and the prisoners retreating on a descending 
gro;i»id, ' f c»urst* o.. .-.^-ht the mus- . ts, when <\o\v., in a level, over liie 
keads of the yriaouers — it was owing to this fortunate circumstance that 

18* 



3 



214) JOURNAL. 

so few were iiijared on tlje first discfiarge of the musketry ; and it aeem* 
tlie iiifuiinaii Shortland was aware of this circumstance, when lie was dis- 
tJiictly heard to order his soldiers to lire low This does not appear to 
correspond with that part of (heir report which savs, "Capt. Sliortlaiid 
was in the market square exerting himself in giving- orders to stop the 
filing.'* 

That there was any provocation given to the 9ol<iicrs to justify their 
subsequent brutal conduct, the commissioners themselves seera to find 
it very difficult to trace any evidence, although they sav, it a]>pears, that 
there was some resistance made to the tui nkcs i'l sljutting tiie prison, 
and that stones were thrown at the mifitary Had thev examined the 
priso^>ei^s sufTicientIv, they would have been convinced tlint no resistance 
•was made to the turnkeys in shutting the doors. As to throwing stones 
at the military while they were chasing them from corner to corner, and 
firing at tliem in every place where they had taken shelter from tin; 
balls, could i: 'le expected bat they would seize on something for self- 
defence, when they saw the soldiers running at them with their bayo- 
nets, and having no possible means of escape, as it has been before stated 
all the doors in the prisons had been pieviously closed except one, anc 
that one, perhaps, the iensffh of (he prison from him Is there a man, in 
sn«'h a sitna'ion, bnt would seize on thr first weapon that oftered itself, 
and s<.ll his life as dear as possible. How can they, then, make that the 
slightest j'tslification for such outrageous conduct on the part of Short- 
land or the military "' 

As to most of the officers being absent is erroneous ; it could have been 
y>roved that there was an ofiiccr in every yard, and in one instance where 
lie was heard to give the order to fire on a party of prisoners close by the 
d !or, and iHinning and making every exertion to enter the prison. 

As to C:>])t. Sliortland being busy in the square with the turnkeys, re- 
ceiving and taking care of Die wounded, certainly shows the commission- 
eis' want of correct informrtion, for it is already before the public, in af- 
fidavit, the criid manner i/i which the wounded were treated by him, 
niid of his abusc> lo I'w^ prisoners who were beMrii>g the wounded to the 
hospital g'.ie Tha« p:^it of the report which relates that the time and 
C'lmmerite nent of this transaction was the officers' dinvier hour, is too 
ridiculous for a commctit. \^'e do not hi lieve that there w«3 a prisoner 
i;i the depot that knew when or where the officers dined, and therefore, 
can be no ground for an argument, that the prisoners were taking this^ 
oij|tortuni{y to escape. 

The rej)0;t goes r»n to state, *•' the cross-fire, v/hich was kept up from 
several of the platforms on the walls round the prisnii,, ati<l directed 
•itf'aiiist straggling parlies of prisoncs running about ttie yard, endeavor- 
rrig to enter tlie pi-ison by the door which the turnkey lef<; Oj)en, accor- 
ding to their usual practice does seem to have betn without object or ex- 
■tuse, and to have been a wnntun attack upon the lives of defenceless,, 
anfl, at t!ie same time, unoffending ijtdividuals." I» answer to this para- 
jrjph. we sliall only reply, that had the commissioners examined aul. 
the Anuricr^n evidence, and attached the same credit to it; which it ap- 
pears lhe\ have done to ali^ the English evidence, similar expressions 
%v<i,ild have been made use of against Shortland's conduct throughout 
ihe whole of their report. 

It ap\)eais to us after an attentive examination of this report, that the 
:?onimisMoneis meant to juslifv Shorlland in coinniencing his miwderous 
atL'ick upon llie pi-i oners, ami to condenm the soklieis for continuing it, 
■:li igular as this idea appears, it is no less strange to ns, how it can be 
I>os.3ible ibey could icconcile it 10 their feelings to make up a report con- 
tui'.lns s;icli a direct coiiuadiaion to pcacun ; for surely if bhortland 



JOURNAL. 



:iiB 



crtnid be justiiicti in using coercive measures in the first instance, the 
military certaiuly shoiiUJ be acquitted for the subsequent massacre, as the 
%vhole was conducted under his immediate command ; — and if he had A 
RIGHT to kill one, on the same ground he might have extended it to a 
thousand. And, o;i tlie other hand, if any part of the iransaGliou is to be 
condemnevi, Shortland sliould answer for the whole ; fur what necessity 
could there be made to attempt indentifying any of the soldiers Surely 
the commissioners could not think of l)ringing them to punishment, as 
they acted by the direct orders of Shortiand and ^lis officers ? — and if any 
one could or ought to be made to answer for the outrage, it should be 
Shori!an(3. 

In addition 'o the contradictions contained in the commissioners' joint 
report, Mr King, in hia letter to his excellency J. Q. Adams, almost dc^ 
nies the ground on which they have, in part founded Shortland's justifi- 
cation, when he says (alluding to have heard several Americans s~iveai\ 
po'iitively, that Shortland did give the order to fire, and an officer of the 
guard thinking that he did not, as he should have heard him) "perhaps 
the bias of my niind was, that Shortland did give that order; and wish- 
ing tb.e report to go fortii under our joint signatures, I forbore to press 
some of the points 90 far as otherwise 1 migh r have done." 

If, then, any jiart has been neglected, or passed over for accammoda- 
tion, or any othei* purpose (and one there certamly has, in not paying 
the same atteKiion to tlic American as was done to the English evidence} 
it is to be regretted tiiat Mr, King should so far forget tiie sacred duties 
attached to the appointment of a commissioner to enquire ip.to the mur- 
der of his coisnti-ymeni as to pass over any points wiiich might have 
brought to light the means of punishment for the murder, or obtained 
in some measure an indemnity for the surviving anha])py sufferers. 

Will not t)»e shades of the departed victims haunt him in his midnight 
slumbers, and pointing to their lacerated bodies, say, these stili remaia 
unavenged ? Will not the unhappy survivors siiow the stumps of tlieii' 
amputated limbs, and say, these wounds fester, and still remain nnatou- 
ed ? Will not the widow and the helpless orphan raise tiieir innocent 
hands to lieaven, and cry, why v/as justice denied us ] Wiiy was the heart 
so callous to our sufferings ? — And why was the bosom shut to sympathj ? 
Lst Mr. King point out some means to appease these bitter complaintSj 
and we shall be satisfied 

We shall now close these unpleasant remarks, by noticing another Qn- 
accountahle error in Mr. King's letter to Mr- Adams, where he men- 
tions, speaking of Shortiund, "and his genera! conduct, previous to this 
occurrence, as far as I could with propriety enter into such details, ap- 
pears to have been characterised witii great fairness and even kindness 
in the relation in which he stood towards the prisoners." We sliall not 
pretend to ask Mr. King where he obtained the evidence on which he 
grounds this assertion ; we are . ure it was not from the prisoners, who 
ought to have been the best judges of that eircu.ostance ; but, instead of 
all that, all the Americans who were permitted to express an opinion on 
that subject, at the examination, declared, ',vithout reserve, as would all 
the ;ir.soners in the depot, had they been asked the question, that Short- 
land's conduct, from the commencement of his appointment to that sta- 
tion, had been crnei, oppressive, and overbearing, and, instead of taking 
measures to alleviate the distresses of tlie wretched objects tsnder him, 
as a feeling man would have done, he seemed to take a p'easure in har. 
rassing them whenever he cuul'i find the sligiitest pretext for so doing. 

TV, Colion, Joseph Sivain, Arch'd Taylor, Bavid fng-alls, Reubeii 
Sherman, ArcK'd 1. Mackiy, Fhilcp Blacky Homer Hall, Jtimes B. 
JlansfteuJ, .^br'm M' Tntire, ti^m. Cochrun, Jlenry DoUiuer, John Jones,, 
B. PV^eksj fVm. Dcmaell, Thomas JVurd, IViliium K, Whits, 



21^ JOURNAt. 



REMARKS. 



In presenting to the world the record of a transaction, probably the 
most barbarou? which the history of modern warfare can furnish, we 
cannot refrain from remarks — Whatever our feelings may be, upon a 
subiict so amply calculated to excite the indignation and abhorrence of 
every friend to humanity, and every one who has respect for the lav. s 
of civilized and mitigated warfare, we will, nevertheless, refrain, so fir 
as the circums'.ances of outraged humanity wnll permit, from the 
violence of invective, and wholly from unwarranted crimination. Those, 
into whose hands these documents may fall, will, however, preserve 
them as a monument erected to the memory of their slaughtered coun- 
trymen, and a memento of the unfeeling cruelty of our late enemy. 

Though we are f.ir from believing that there are not persons of noble 
an'l humane minds in the English nation, yet, a uniformity of conduct, on 
the part of the Government and its agents, has taught us to believe that 
they, at least, are blood thirsty and cruel. 

The incarceration of Americans in the Jersey Prison Ship at New- 
York, and Mill Prison, in England, in the Revolutionary war, raised in 
tbe minds of the sainted heroes of those times, the most exalted feelings 
of indignation and abhorrence. The history of those prisoners, where 
hundreds were compelled to wear out an existence, rendered miserable 
by the cruelty of an enemy, professing a reverence for the sublime prin- 
ciples of lyhnstianity, is already familiarized to the minds of the Araeri- 
can people. If the feelings of Americans were then indignant, what 
■should they be, on beholding those cruelties renewed with more than 
ten fold severity ? The conduct of ThoTnas George Shorthand, the agent 
at Uartmoor Prison, is such as should " damn him to everlasting fame.'* 

Upon what principles the conduct of this man, precedent to the ever 
memorable 6th of \pril, 1815, can be justified, we cannot determine. 
T'ne indiscriminate confinement of both officers and men in the same pri- 
sons, and those the most unfits dtcayedt and loathsome of any which the 
Government could furnish, was an infraction of the established laws of 
civilized nations for the treatment of prisoners of war. It was equally 
abhorrent to the principles of humanity, and only sanctioned by Dritish 
governmental agents, and those petty Nations ofS ivages, whose known 
usages of warfare have hitherto kept them beyond the pale of national 
law. The history of modern liiu'opean whys can furnish no parallel 
to this part of the history of Dartmoor. But when we arrive at the 
s'.aughter of prisoners on the 6th of April, theclimax of barbarity is com- 
plete, and the mind is sa'ed with the contempiation of principles as 
shocking to liumanity as the consequences are degrading to the charac- 
ter of t'le English nation 

An emii'ent writer upon national law, has formerly extolled tlie 
** Englis!) and French for tlieir treatment given to prisoners of war," and 
at the s;ime time mentions the case of Charts J. Kingot Naples, who 
having defeated and taken prisoner Conraue, liis competitor, caused 
him, together with his fcllou-prisoner, Frederick of /Austria, to be be- 
headed at Napli.3 Upon this case our author has the follovving perti- 
nent remarks : — "This barbarity raised an universal horror, and Peter 
the third, Kui^f of Arragen, reproached Uhanes with it, as a detestable 



JOURNAfc. 2l7 

CTime, tl!' then unheard of amon» christian princes. However, the 
case was of a dang-erous rival contending wuh him for the throne. But, 
supnosin^^ the claims of his rival were unjust, (>harles might have kept 
him in prison until he had renounced them, andi^iven security for his 
future hehiivior." If this act of Charles raised an '* universal horror,'* 
what should be the excitement produced by the cold blooded massacre 
of a lumiber of unarmed and unofFendins;- prisoners of war in confine- 
ment ? Humanity shudders at the thoug-ht, and language furnishes no 
appropriate epithet with which to brand the infamous perpetrator of so 
foul, so hitherto unheard of a crime. Did that writer now live, he 
would no longer extol the humanity of the English nation, but in com- 
mon with the friends of humanity, he would join in the *' universal hoT' 
ror'^ which British cruelty has excited. 

The complexion of this transaction is rendered still more dark and 
barbarous, and its criminality most shockingly enlianced, by the cir- 
cumstances under which many of those unfortunate men became pri- 
soners, and finally were oRered up as victims to gratify the cruel and 
insatiate feeling of the British agent They were American Citizenst 
luho had been impressed into the service and bondage of Great Britain, 
in ti^ne of peace They had served that government ti'om a necessity, 
arising irom the assumed principle of a right to search neutral ves* 
sels for British seamen, and the practice of taking Americans and 
compelling them to service. We cannot, however, too much ap= 
plaud the magnanimity of those men, in refusing to fight against and 
slaughter their countrymen ; nor can we too much detest the conduct 
of Great Britain, in confining them as prisoners of war. 

This practice, assumed as a right in the first moments of our exist- 
ence as an independent and comn^ercial nation, has " grown with our 
growth," and the evil thereof has increased in proportion es our 
commercial rivalship has become more alarming to the pride and in- 
justice of Great Britain. It is a practice which cannot be traced to 
any priucipd of justificatioa ; and ;et we hax-e seen the legislators of 
Massachusetts, clothed with a garb of official sanctity, send to the world 
a report, aviountir.g ahn^st to a denial, that such a practice was in exist" 
ence / We pretend not to judge of tiieir motives ; but we remark, how 
soon they are confounded by the report of Shortiand and Magrath. 
By that instrument it appears, that of thirty-eight who were ^f::ed or 
wounded, tivcdve were of the number of Impressed Americans- who had 
given themselves up as prisoners of war, upon the commencement of 
liostihties. If this be the correct proportion of their prisoners, who 
have been impressed from American vessels, ar-jd as it U an offi..iaI doc~ 
unient of British authority, we cannot believe the ratio fo be less, we 
i)Ze the advocates of British magnanimity confounded and put to 
shanie,hy the testimony of those same Br' ti.=5h agents, whose just'fi.:atiou 
they have so eagerly, thougli unsuccessfully atiempted. It migl*t, in- 
deed, have been supposed, t at after havin;? so frequently been treat- 
ed with the same contempt, they might have learned sufficient caution, 
at least, to stay their measures until the pleasure of their transatlantic 
friends should be known. But their overweening anxiety has only 
teijiedto plunge them in deeper embarrassments, and should teach 
tiictn, thai mo: e prudence and less zeai in the cause oi a national ene»- 



2l8 JOURNAL. 

my, might secure them a safer retreat in the moments when those 
whose friendship theykad so anxiously sought, had deserted, and con- 
demned them. 

By the report of the Legislature of Massachusetts upon the subject 
of impressment?, it would appear, that no more than sixteen had been 
impressed from this Commonwealth. What must be our conclusion 
upon a comparison of this report, with that of Messrs. Shortiand and 
Magrath ? It is irresisrabie either that the former did not report the 
full number of impressments, or that the latter have aggravated their 
guilt acd condemnation, by swelling the number to a degree beyond 
what the facts would justify from some cause, unknown to their 
American advocates and in favor of the facts and principles, for which 
the American government have uniformly contended. A few of those 
assumed as facts, by the present do-ninant party in New-England, 
may aid us in this enquiry and perhaps conduct us to a correct con- 
clusion. They have repeatedly told us, that New-England, and more 
particularly Massachusetts, has ever been the nursery of our seamen. 
That this section had furnished more than tlie whole remaining part 
of the United States. Admitting the correctness of the rt-port of 
Shortland and Magrath, we are wholly unable to reconcile the report 
of our Legislature w'th those which they assume as facts, and upon 
which the principles of their report were, in part, predicated. It ex- 
hibits to our view a disposition to fritter away the enormities of the 
British Government and a determinatioii to justify them in eve. y act of 
barbarity, however unjustifiable in its circumstances, or however shock- 
ing in its operation 

The report of Messrs King and Larpent may here claim a portion 
of our attention Unpleasant as the t?.sk may be, to reflect, even indi- 
rectly upon the conduct of one of our countrymen, acting in the high 
and solemn capacity to which Mr. Kin/ was called, we cannot, how- 
ever, without doing violence to our own feelings, and criminating num- 
bers of our countrymen perhaps equally entitled to credibility with 
Mr King himself, afford our credence to his singular report; espe- 
cially when we see it contradicted unconditionally, bv the unfortu- 
Dite witnesses of the unhappy and barbarous transaction. 

Even Mr. King himself in his letter to Mr Adams, furnishes a tar- 
dy acknowledgment, that he had not completed the duties to which 
he had been called. " Considering it of much importance (he says) 
that the report, whatever it might be, should go forth under cur joint 
signatures, I have foreborn to press some of the points which it in- 
volves as far as otherwise X might have done. ' And why did Mr. 
King forbear to press ev^ry point involved in the report.^ Was it 
from a disposition to perform his whole duty < o his country ; or, rather, 
trnm a too common admiration of iiritish principles and British char- 
acters. 

The numerous affidavits accompanying the report made by the com- 
mittee of the prisoners, together with the reply to the report of Mes- 
srs Kin;< and Larpent, afford the most positive tej-timony in contradic- 
tion to many of its prominent features. We can form no other f 'n- 
\on respecting this report, tlian cither that Mr. King was overreached 



JOURN'AL* 219 

by his colleague, or that he was predetermined to fritter down the 
abuses which the British Government and its agents had lavished upon 
their American prisoners Why either Messrs King or Larpent 
should decline the examination of a// the witnesses offered by the pri- 
soners, is wholly inexplicable, unless we attribute to them a mutual 
and fixed determination to justify the conduct of Shortlanel and his 
accomplices, at the expense of criminating hundreds of Americans, 
who were no less entitled to credibility than either of themselves. 
Hereafter, " let no such men be trusted.''' 

The treatment to the prisoners appears to have proceeded from the 
same principles of inhumanity, which have given rise to the hostile 
operations of the British Commanders upon our maritime an^l inland 
frontiers, during the continuance of the late contest. Such principles 
belong only to Savages or their allies. The outrages at the river Rai- 
sin, Hampton, Havre de-Grace, Washington ^nd those attempted at 
New-Orleans, it was thought, might have filled the measure of British 
.barbarities. But to the prisons of Dartmoor was transferred the 
scene of its completion. Americans, armed in defence of their soil, 
their Constitution, and natural rights, were too invincible to the " ve- 
teran" conquerors of the East. Prisoii'-^rs of war in confinement, and 
vcithout ar7ns,''jJtre selected as the objects upon lahich they might glut their 
m,alicf. 

We have heard much from a certain class of our politicians of the 
burning of Newark and St David s ; but little have they said of the 
destruction of Buffalo, of Washington City, or the massacre of our un- 
fortunate countrymen at Dartmoor ; and that It it .c has been directed to 
the justification 'fthe pertetrators The conflagration of our Capitol, 
with the appendages of art and taste, and even the slaughter of our 
countrymen, could not excite in those mine's one feeling of indignation ; 
whilst the unauthorised destruction of a few houses, within the terri- 
torial limits of our enemy, not oniy excited their warmest sympathies 
for the enemy, bur their foulest denunciations of our own Govern- 
ment 

We might here attempt a comparison of the treatment of each Gov- 
ernment to their prisoners But the contrast is so evident, that we 
sjhaM commit it to our readers without remark. 

Wnere is the American, whose fee ings io not become indignant, af- 
ter a full and dispassionate view of ail the circumstances connected wnh 
this savage transaction ? — Though we may again he told, that Great 
Britain is the " Bulwark of our £e'igiou ,- yet it may be ho[)ed, that 
few, indeed, will be found to worship in a temple stained with the 
blood of their countrvmen or consign their consciences to the keeping 
of the upholders of the the temple of Juggernaut, or the restorers of 
Papal power. 

Though our po'icy as an Independent Republic is pacific, yet 
should our rights again be assailed, and future wars ensue^ Wli. WiLL 
JfEMEMHKii DARrMOOIi! 



220 JOURNAL. 

The night following the shoekinj^ massacre was spent 
in deep disquietude. As we knew not what had actually 
oecasioued this, in some degree, deliberate slaughter, so 
we were filled with anxiety as to its final termination. The 
liorrors of Paris, under Robespiere, rose to view, and de- 
prived us of sleep ; or if wearied nature got a moment's re- 
lief, many waked wp screaming with the impression, that 
they were under the hands of a murderer dressed in red. 

The gates of our prison were closed up in the morning, 
and each one seemed describing to his neighbor what lie 
had seen and heard ; and every one execrating t)ie villain 
who had occasioned the massacre. In the course of the 
day, a British colonel, whom we had never before seen, 
appeared at the inner gate, attended by the detestible 
Siiorlland, who was pale and haggard like ordinary mur- 
derers. T!ie colonel asked us, generally, JVfiat ivas the 
cmifie of this unhappy state of things? We related some 
particulars as well as we could ; but all united in accusing 
eapt. Thomas Shortland of deliberate murder. On Short- 
land's denvina: some of the accusations, the colonel turned 
round to him, and said, in a very serious tone, ** hir, you 
have no riirht to speak at this time.''* Upon which I thought 
the valiant captain would have fainted. He, doubtless, 
thought of an halter. The colonel went to the other 
yards, and received, as we were informed, statements not 
materially differing from what he first heard. The colo- 
nel's manner left an agreeable impression on our minds. 
He appeared to be seriously grieved, and desirous to find 
out the truth. 

The next day major general B came up from Plym- 
outh in the forenoon, and made some trifiins; inquiries in 

the afternoon. Soon after came admiral R , and a 

captain in the navy, whose name I do not remember. They 
went into tlie military walk over the gates, when the space 
below was soon filled with prisoners. The admiral did 
not impress us quite so agreeably as the colonel, who 
seemed to speak and look his own good feelings ; while 
the former appeared to have got his lesson, and have come 
prepared to question us, like an attorn«'y rather than like 
a frank and open seaman. The admiral informed the 
prisoners that he was appointed by the commander in 
chief at Plymouth, to inquire, ?f;/i^f//^r the prisoners had 
avy cause for complaint against the British guvBrnmenty as 



JOURNAL, 221 

ft) fhdr PROVISIONS ? Tliere ensued a sliort silence, until 
our countryman, Mr. Colton., a man who was neither in- 
timidated by rank, nor disconcerted by parade, answered 
him and said, that " the affair of provisions was not the 
occasion of their present distress and anxiety, but that it 
was the horrid massacre of their unoffending and unresist- 
inj^ countrvmen, whose blood cried from tlie ground, like 
the blood of Abel, lor justice. We have notiiing now to 
say about our provisions ; that is but a secondary concern. 
Our cry is for due vengeance on the murderer Shortland, 
to expiate t!»e horrors of the 6th of April. We all com- 
plain of his haughty, unfeeling, and tyrannical conduct, 

at all times, and on all occasions." " Tha r we have 

NOTHING TO DO WITH," Said the admiral, and then repeat- 
ed the former question, relative to tiie British government 
and the provisions ; to which Mr. Colton replied in a still 
more exasperated tone of accusation against the murder- 
er and the murder. " Then you do not^*^ said the admiral, 
" complain of the British government for detaining you 
here .^'* '* By no means," said our spokesman, " the pris- 
oners, one and all, ascribe our undue attention here, to a 
neglect of duty in our own agent. Mr. Beasly." " Then 
I hope,'* said the admiral, " that you will all 7'emain 
tranquil. I lament as mvch as you, the unfortunate oc- 
currence that has taken place.'^ Upon this, Mr. Colton 
mentioned particularly the murder of the boy who was 
shut up in No. 4, alter the prisoners were all driven in 
throngli the doors, and averred that he was killed by the 
direct order of a British officer, who came to the door 
with some of the guard. " That is the lobster-bucked vil- 
lain,'* exclaimed a young man, " that stafids behind you, 
sir ! who^ I heard deliberately order his men to fire on the 
prisoners, after they had all got into the building. I saw 
him. and heard himnnve the orders, and had liked to have 
been bayonetted myself by his soldiers.*^ Tiie Admiral 
looked round on the officer, who reddened almost to a pur- 
ple, and sneaked away, and was seen no more ; and thus 
ended what was probably called Admiral R's examination 
into the causes of the massacre ! 

I know of no examination after this, if such an inter- 
view may be called an examination; for on the — of Ap- 
ril, mvself and a few others were set at liberty. We had 
made application the uight before, and passed the night 
id 



*>22 JOURNAL. 

in sleepless anxiety. At 10 o'clock orders were sent down 
to collect our tilings. We dare not call our wretcled bag- 
^-ao-e, by any other than the beggarly name of duds.''' — 
In consequence of this order, the turnkey conveyed us to 
the upper gate, where we remained a while fluttering be- 
tween fear and hope. At length the sergeant of tlie guard 
came, and opened the gate, and conducted us to the guard 
room, where our fears began to dissipate and our hopes to 
brighten. When the clerk entered, he must have seen 
anxiety in our countenances, and was disposed to sport 
^y\{\\ our feelings. He put on a gravd and solemn phiz, 
mixed with a portion of the insolence of office, as if he 
were about to read our death-warrants, while we cast a 
look of misery at each other. At length, with apparent 
reluctance, he vouchsafed to hand to each of us, like 
miser paying a debt, the dear delicious paper, the evi- 
dence of our liberty ! on which was written," by order of 
the transport board.'* This was enough. We devoured 
it with our eyes, clinched it fast in our fists, laughed, ca- 
pered, jumped, screamed, and kicked up the dirt like so 
many mad men ; and away we started for Princetown, 
looking back as we ran, every minute, to see if our cere- 
bus, with his bloody jaws, was not at our heels. At ev- 
ery step we took from the hateful prison, our enlarged 
souls expanded our lately cramped bodies. At length we 
attained a rising ground ; and O, how our hearts did swell 
Avithin us at the sight of the ocean ! that ocean that wash- 
es the shores of our dear America, as well as those of 
England. After taking breath, we talked in strains of 
rapture to each other. This ground, said I, belongs to 
the British ; but that ocean, and this air, and that sun, are 
as much ours as theirs ; or as any other nations. They 
arc blessings to that nation which knows best how to de- 
serve and enjoy them. May the arm of bravery secure 
them all to uei. and to our children forever. Long and 
dismal as our caj)tivity has been, we declared with one 
voice, that should our government again arm and <Ieclare 
war for ''free, trade and saihr''s rights,'* we would, in a 
moment, agjvin try the iui::; of war, with the hard hearted 
Britons; but with the fixed resolution of never being tak- 
en by them alive ; or, at least, unwounded, or unmnlilat- 
ed. I see, 1 feel that the love of cojintry is our "' ruling 
passion ;" and it is this that has and will give us the su- 



JOURNAL, .^, 323 

periority in battle, by land and by sea, while the want of 
it will cause some folks to recoil before the x\merican bay- 
onet and bullets, as tbe British did at Chippewa, Erie, 
Plattsburg and New Orleans. 

While the British prisoner retires from our places of 
confinement in good health, and with unwilling and reluc- 
tant step, we, half famished Americans, fly from theirs as 
from a pestilence, or a mine just ready to explode. If the 
British cannot alter these feelini^s in the two nations, her 
power will desert her, while that of America will increase. 

After treading the air, instead of touching the ground, 
we found ourselves at the Devonshire arms in Princetown, 
where the comely bar-maid appeared more than mortal. 
The sight of her rosy cheeks, shining hair, bright eyes, 
land pouting lips, wafted our imaginations, in the twink- 
ling of an eye, across the atlantic to our own dear country 
of pretty girls. I struck the fist of my right hand into the 
palm of my left, and cried out — ." O, for unhorse ivitk 
wino^sl^^ The giri stared with amazement, and concluded, 
I guess, that 1 was mad ; for she looked as if she said to 
herself-—" poor crazy lad ! who ever saw a horse with 
wings ?" 

We called for some wine, and filling our glasses, drank 
to the power, glory and honor, and everlasting happiness 
of our beloved conntry ; and after that to all the pretty 
girls in America. During this, we, now and then, looked 
around us, to be certain that all this was not a dream, and 
asked each other if they were sure there was no red coat 
watching our movements, or surley turn-key listening to 
our conversation? and whether what we saw were really ^ 
the walls of an house, where ingress and egress were 
equally free ^ It is inconceivable how we are changed by 
habit. Situations and circumstances ennoble the mind or 
debase it. 

From what I myself experienced, and saw in others, on 
the day we left our hateful prison, I do not wonder that 
sudden transitions from the depressing effects of imprison- 
ment, sorrow, chagrin, impatience, or feelings bordering 
on despair, to that of liberty and joy, should so effect the 
vital organs, as to bring on a fatal spasm, or that the sud- 
den exhilarations of the animal spirits, might produce 
phrenzy. We were animated anew with a moderate por- 
tion of generous liquor 5 but absolutely intoxicated with 




324 JOURNAL. 

joy. We asked a thousand questions wldiniit waiting for 
an answer. In the midst of* our rapture we had a messaj^e 
i'r(un Sljorthind, who seemed to be afraid tliat we should be 
so near him, and yet out of his power, that if we did not 
hasten our march on to Plymouth, he would have us 
brou2;ht back to prison. At the sound of his hateful name, 
and tl«e idea of his person, we started off like so many 
wild Zebras. We, however, stepped a little out of 
llie road to an eminence, to take another, and a last loflk 
of the Dartmoor depot of misery, when M'e saw waving 
over it, the x-Xmerican 8ag, like the colors sans tache, wav- 
ins; over the walls of Sodom and Gomorrha. We gave 
three cheers, and then resumed •ur road to Plymouth, 
where we soon after arrived. 

While dining at the inn, an old man. in the next roo 
hearing we were Americans, came in, and asked us if v^ 
knew his son who lived in America, and mentioned his 
name. Yes, said one of my companions ; he is a mechan- 
ic ; 1 think a carpenter — 1 know him very well, and he is 
a very clever fellow. The old man caught hold of him, 
and shook him by the hand as if he would shake his arm 
off. Yes, yes, you are right, my son is a ship carpenter, 
and it almost broke my heart when he Ment off to seek his 
fortune in a far country. In the fullness of his heart, the 
poor old man offered to treat us with the best liquor the 
house afforded ; but we all excused ourselves and declined 
his generosity. This would have been carrying the joke 
too far, for neither of us ever had any knowledge of his 
son. We felt happy ; and we thought, if we thought at 
all, that we woul*l make the old man happy also. The 
English and Americans are equally addicted to bantering, 
hoaxing, quizzing, humming, or by whatever ridiculous 
name we may denote this more than ridiculous folly. I 
never heard tiiat the French, Germans, Spaniards, or 
Italians, were a;ldieted to this unbenevolent wit, if coward- 
ly iniposition can merit that name. 

As we strolled through Plymouth, we gazed at every 
ihing we saw, as if we had just fallen into it from the 
jnuon. In staring about we lost our way, and accosted a 
grave looking, elderly man, who directed us. As we ask- 
id him several questions, he thought he had a i4ghtto ask 
one of us ; when, to our surprise, he asked us if we had 
<niij ^old to sell ? Wc now peiceived that we had takea 



JOURNAL. 225 

for our director one of the sons of AUraham, whose home 
is no where, and that he took us to be either privateers- 
men or piek-pockets. Piqued at this, we thought we 
would be even with him, and we asked him if his name 
was not Shortland ? He said no. We asked him if he 
liiid no relations of that name. He enquired if dit Short- 
land vas Jew or Christian r We told him he was neither 
one nor the other. Den, said Moses, he must be Turk ; for 
dere be but three sort of peoples in the vorld ; and this 
set us a laughing at the expenee of the despised Israelite, 
until we lost him in some of the dirty alleys of this noisy 
seaport. 

1 slept that night at the Exchange Coffee House. It 
was so long since I had been cut off from the decencies of 
^ife, that 1 could hardly be said to enjoy them. I could 
not, at first, reconcile myself to the civil attention of ser- 
vants and waiters. At the hour of sleep, 1 was shown to 
such a bed as I used to sleep on in my father's house. — 
But who would believe it, that my predominant misery 
during tliis night, was a feather bed and a pillow, render- 
ed uneasy because it was as soft as down ! Yes, astonish- 
ed reader I I felt about as uneasy in a feather bed, as Mr. 
Beasley, or any other fine London gentleman would, at 
laying on a plank, or the ballast of a transport. Such is 
the power of habit, and such the effect of custom. 

The next morning before 1 left my bed, I pondered over 
the events and conduct of the preceding day, but not vvilh 
satisfaction, or self approbation. The seventh chapter of 
Eeclesiastes came fresh to my mind. I said to myself, 
adversity and constraint are more favourable to wisdom^ 
than liberty and prosperity; or to express it in better 
words — " sorrow is better than laughter^ for by the sadness 
of the countenance the heart is made better ; and for this 
maxim of m isdom we are indebted to a Jew. 

We remained a fortnight longer in Plymouth, and learnt 
by degrees to relish civility. We were kindly noticed by 
several good people, who seemed to be rather partial to us 
Americans than otherwise. While there, I heard but very 
little uttered against America, or Americans. We were 
spoken to, and treated infinitely better than at Halifax. By 
tite time of our embarkation, which was the ;23d of Aprils 
1815, we felt considerable attachment to the people about 
Hs, We arrived nt New- York the 7th of June following, 



526 JOURNAL. 

without any thing occurring in the passage worth commit-^ 
ting to paper, unless it be to record the striking contrast 
in our feelings in our passage fo, and from England. 

My sensations on first setting my foot once more on my 
native soil, were such as I have not power to describe. 
Tears gushed from my eyes, and had 1 not been ashamed, 
I should have kneeled down and kissed the earth of the 
United States. I believe similar sensations, more or 
less, fill the bosom of every American, on returning to his 
own country from British captivity. It is hardly possible 
that I shall, so long as my faculties remain entire, forget 
the horrors of the British transports, and several scenes 
and sufferings at Dartmoor Prison ; yet I hope to be able, 
before I quit this world of contention, to forgive the con- 
tempts, the contumely, the starvations and filthiness inflict- 
ed on me and on my cot:ntrymen, by an unfeeling enemy, 
while we remained in his power as prisoners of war, at 
Halifax, on ship board, and at Dartmoor. 



Return we, from this gloomy view, 
To native fcencs, of fairer hue. 
Land of our fires ! the Hero's home ! 
Weary and fick, to thee we come ; 
The heart fatigued with foreign woes, 
On thy fair bofom feeks repofe. 
Columbia! hope of future times ! 
Thou wonder of furrounding climes ! 
Thou laft and only refting place 
Of Freedom's perfecuted race! 
Hail to thy tonfecrated domes ! 
Thy fruitful fields, and peaceful homes; 
The hunter, thus, who long has toil'd 
O'er mountain rude, and foreft wild, 
Turns from the dark and cheerlefs way, 
Where howls the favage beafl of prey, 
To where yon curls of fmoke af|)ire, 
Where brifkly burns his crackling fire ; 
Towards his cot delighted moves. 
Cheered by the voice of thofe he lovegj 
And welcomed by domeftic smiles, 
Sings checrly, and forgets his toils. 



.* 



POSTSCRIPT, 

SOME, to whom I had shown my Journal in manuscript, have thought 
that 1 liad, now and then, expressed my feelings too unguardedly agtiinst 
some of tiie subjects of Great Britain, and some of my own countrymen. 
In consequence of this friendly remark, 1 have struck out a few 
passages, but have not been able to comply with all the wishes of my 
conuccions. Bat, alter all, had a political cant phrase or two been oniit- 
ted, some good people would have been gratifit d. and tlie publication 
not the worse for it. I have severely suffered, felt keenly, and express- 
ed myself honestly, and wiJiout malice 1 may not have made due al- 
lowance for tiie conduct of certain officers and agents. I may not have 
entered, as far as i oujvht, into their situ itions ; and there might have 
been reasons and excuses, that my chafed feelings prevente(^i^ne from 
attending to. If so, the cool and candid reader, both here, and on the 
other side the atlantic, will make that allowance which I could hardly 
make myself I must, nevertheless, maintain, that I have expressed the 
feelings of the moneiit, and cannot now honestly alter my language; for 
whenever my soul calls up many occurrences m my captivity, ra} tongue 
<4,and my pen will be found the faithful organs of my feelings. 

I have endeavored to give due credit to the humane conduct of sever- 
al sailors, soldiers, and private subjects of the enemy. But, if, at this 
period of peace, when it may be supposed that resentment was cooled 
<lown, I try to obliterate tlie impressions made by cruelty and by con- 
tempt, and find I cannot then nmst the reader take it as a trait of the 
imperfect character of a young man, on whose mind adversity has not 
had its best effect. 

If an animosity actually exists between the English and Americans, 
do you mend the m-^tter by denying the fact? This ani.nosity has been 
avowed to exist, within a few months past, in the parliament of England. 
The following aiticle is extracted from a London paper. In a debate, 
(Feb 14th, 1816) a member said, "the spirit of animosity in America, 
, would jubtify an increase of the naval force in the West Indies.*' This 
called up Lord Casllereagh, who said — " .\s to America, if it is said 
great prejudices exist there against us, it must be recollected that great 
prejudices exist here against her. It was," he said, " his most ardent 
wish to discouujenance this feeling on both sides, and to promote be- 
tween the two nations feelings of reciprocal amity aiul regard." 

What has occasioned this avowed animosity in us towards the British ? 
Our merchants, generally, feel not this animosity; neither is it to be 
found, iu a great degree, amongst our legislators How came we by it? 
Our sailors and oar soldiers, who have been in British prisons, and on 
board British men of war, and transports, have brought with them this 
animosity home to their families and their friends. They tell them their 
own stories in their own artless, and sometimes exaggerated way, and 
these are reported with, probably, high coloring, wheixas, I have made 
it a point of honor, a matter of conscience, and a rule of justice, to ad- 
here to truth ; and am contented that the British reader should s..y all 
that fairness admits, to soften down the coloring of some pictures of Brit- 
ish barbarity, provided he does not attempt to impeach my veracity. 

Beside individual animosity, there may p'>ssibly be a lurking national 
one, thinly covered over with the fashionable mantle of courtesy The 
conflicting Interests of the two nations may endanger peace. The source 
of national aggrandizement in both nations, is commerce ; and the liigli 
road to theitr the ocean. We and the IJritish are travelling the same 
way, in keen pursuit of the same objects ; and it is scarcely ptobable, 
tJiat we shall be preserved in a state of peace by abstract love of justice. 
1 have been disposed to allow tliat the cooduct of our couutr^iueu, 



223 JOURNAL. 

while on boanl the prison ships and at Dartmoor, was, at times, pro- 
voking to the British officers set over them, but never malignant, much 
less, bloody It could be always traced to a spirit of fun and frolic, vhich 
our people indulge in beyond all others in the world ; and this ought to 
be considered as one of the luxuriant shoots of our tree of HLerty ; for 
it is too haish to call it an excrescence. It shows the strength, depth 
and extent of its roots, and the richness of the soil. 

This Journal has not been published to increase the animosity now 
subsisfing be;ween the American and Briiish people. So far from it, 
the writer pleases himself with ihe idea that this publication may reme- 
dy the evils complained of, or mitigate them ; and cut oft* the source of 
deep complaint against the English, for their treatment of prisoners, 
should war rage again between the two nations. If the present race of 
Britons have not become indifferent to a sense of national character, 
their go\ernmer.t will take measures to wipe off the stain fiora her gar- 
ments Let the nations of Europe inquire how the Americans treat 
their prisoners of war If we treat them with barbarity publish our dis- 
grace to the wide world, and speak of us accordingly. Let them, at the 
same time, inquire how the English treated those of us who have had 
the great misfortune of falling inio their hands ; and let them be sp(.ken 
of accordingly. My serious opinion is, that this little book will aid the 
great cause of hum-'.nity. 

Although I, with some thousands of my countrymen, w^re inclosed in 
a large prison during the greater part of the war, it fared witu us as 
with those people who seldom go out of their houses, who hear more 
news than those who are abroad in the world It was, however, pretty 
much all of one sort; for we seldom saw any other American news pa- 
pers, than those of the federal, or opposition parly. These were gen- 
erally filled with abuse of the President, and of the government gen- 
erall), and with praises of the English, which, in our situation, produc- 
ed a strong sensation, as our suj)port, our protection, our pi ide, our 
honor were identified in the person of the President, and his adminis* 
tialion, Tne efforts of the federal party in Massachusetts to embarrass 
and tie the hands of our government, and disgrace itsbra\e ofiicers, cre- 
ated in us all a hatred of the very name of fe derail am. I record the 
fact, and appeal to all the prisoners who have now returned home, to 
confirm my a^^sertion , and I declare I have erased not a little on this 
head out of courtesy to a large and sanguine party, who have erred, and 
strayed from the right way, by not knowing the true character of the 
English. 

i feel no animssitj, or disrespect to any gentleman of the federal, or 
opposition party ; but they must excuse me for remarking that their 
conduct, and their sentiments, as they apY>eare<l in messages, proclama- 
ti'ins, s[)eecties and resolves, and their combinations for withholding loans 
of money from government, with their denunciations of a war, waged 
proftsse'dly, and as we knew, really, for " Sailor''s Rights/'' made an 
impression on our minds so decidedlj against the federalists, that the 
ycvy {.t:vm, ftderalism, was wiih us a//, without one single except on, 
a term of deep reproach. L-^l him who doubts it ask any pi isoner who 
made a pait of the six thousand confined in ,Eniiland during the two 
vears of our late bitter war wilh England, and he will be satisfied that 
i have ^* nothing extenuated, or set doivn might in malice." 

I hope and pray tor in ion among ourselves ; and that all party names 
and ilistinclions, may be lost in that of A.MEUICANS. 

" Ii«rncerorth let IVhig and Tory cease, 
*' And turn ail ])aity rage to peace ; 
** Unise and revive your ai cient glory, 
** UNI i"E, and drive tlie -world before you /" 

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